Where things get sticky is with KN95 masks. Those labels are ASTM F3502, Workplace Performance, Workplace Performance Plus, and the code “TC-84A” followed by four more digits. And a good way to vet an N95 mask is to check for NIOSH approval and other labels that ensure they’ve been tested to meet specific standards. Some masks are more prone to counterfeiting than others, but a good way to know whether you are getting legitimate KF94s is by checking that they are indeed made in South Korea. “It’s better than a cloth mask or surgical mask alone but not the ‘best’ solution,” he says. But if you can’t get your hands on a high-filtration mask before you leave, Aaron Collins, a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science who has tested hundreds of masks he purchased online, suggests double masking as an alternative. “I know people personally who have gotten sick while traveling even after they were fully vaccinated,” she says, noting that if you are traveling to or from an area of the world where COVID-19 is spreading more rapidly, you should be extra careful. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist with NYU Langone Health, advises wearing a KN95, KF94, or an N95 when flying, whether you’re up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccine or not. “Everybody asks me, ‘Should we really have an N95?’ ‘Should we have this and that?’” His answer: “You should have whichever mask you’re going to keep wearing.” And Dr. Waleed Javaid, the director of infection prevention and control at Mount Sinai Downtown, says he gets this question all the time. To find out which masks are best to wear both on the plane and at the gate, we spoke with Cui, Glatt, and nine other experts. If you look at who needs to be admitted into hospitals, more than 90 percent or maybe even 95 percent are people who haven’t been vaccinated,” he says. But, he says, “if the person sitting next to you happens to have an asymptomatic case of COVID and you’re at high risk, then that’s very dangerous.” That’s why Yi Cui, a professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University who co-authored a study on the efficiency of various mask materials, emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated and getting your booster shot. Aaron Glatt, the chair of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the ventilation in airplanes is actually pretty good despite the length of time you spend inside, and if everyone is wearing a mask, that lowers the risk even more. That includes social distancing whenever possible, avoiding eating or drinking in poorly ventilated or crowded areas, and wearing a high-filtration mask. If you’re not up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC recommends delaying travel until you are, but if you have to fly anyway, you should take extra precautions. Regardless, airports remain a meeting point for travelers from all over the world, so wearing quality masks that offer high filtration - such as KN95, KF94, and N95 respirators - can be a critical step in reducing the spread. And even with the end of most COVID restrictions nationwide, many health experts believe that masking remains an important tool in protecting yourself and others from XBB.1.5 and other subvariants that are still circulating throughout the U.S.Ĭurrently, most airlines do not require masks for staff or travelers, except on flights into countries with mandates still in place. that are deemed high risk and for anyone who is immunocompromised or unvaccinated. The CDC still recommends masks for all people in areas of the U.S. Though the government has officially lifted the COVID-19 National Emergency as of April 2023, it’s still important to remain mindful of your personal and public health, especially in crowded indoor spaces - including airports and planes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |