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- The CDC does not recommend medical grade masks for the general public because they are highly sought after by healthcare professionals.
- But N95 Mask Co. has a production model that helps keep them in stock for both the healthcare industry and the general public.
- When I ordered three different masks from the company, the process was simple and shipping extremely fast.
- This article was reviewed clinically by Aimee Desrosiers, PA-C, MS, MPH, an infectious disease assistant physician in Washington, DC.
The United States – along with many other countries in the world – has been fighting a pandemic since the beginning of 2020, and the battle continues as we move towards 2021. While we wait for vaccination and infection rates to decrease, practicing social detachment and use mask in public remains the most important way to reduce the spread of the virus.
Now we all know that we should wear a mask, but let’s talk about the specific types of masks and because they are recommended. The CDC recommends that everyone wear a cloth face mask when in public and, in their guidance, also discourages the use of medical equipment, such as N95 respirators.
While this orientation may seem counterintuitive, there is a reason behind it. Fabric facial masks can provide a barrier to respiratory droplets that travel in the air when you speak or sneeze, and have been scientifically proven to reduce the chance of transmitting larger particles. N95 respirators, on the other hand, are medical grade masks that filter 95% of the small particles (0.3 microns) and are much more effective. Ordinary people are discouraged from using them in order to save them for health professionals who, consciously or unconsciously, have contact with positive cases daily at work.
But now, a company called N95 Mask Co. is making N95 respirators available to the public, and instead of pulling out supplies that healthcare professionals desperately need, their ingenious production model actually helps to keep them in stock.
Virtually any textile company can produce fabric masks, but N95 masks are made to meet exact specifications and regulations. This means that they cannot be made by your favorite T-shirt or jeans company using excess materials. The demand must be met by factories approved to produce them according to the guidelines of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), FDA and CDC.
However, factories that are approved to produce them cannot simply increase production on a whim and slow down when demand decreases. To produce masks consistently at high volume, companies like N95 Mask Co. need to ensure that a certain number of items are shipped out of the factories on a daily basis – whether they are needed to fulfill existing orders or not. If products are not dispatched, factors such as unpaid production costs and limited inventory space prevent factories from producing more.
Typically, factories produce smaller quantities to fulfill mass orders placed by hospitals (which comes with a lead time for production), but with a stable high volume production method, N95 Mask Co. can keep them readily available to the healthcare industry and sell surplus stock to average consumers.
Instead of trying to get the sister of your second cousin’s wife, who happens to be a nurse, to steal some masks from the warehouse, which keeps them away from the people who need them most, you can put them in good conscience for fair prices at N95 Mask Co. And when medical institutes run out of supplies, they won’t have to wait long before they are replenished.
What is the difference between N95 and KN95 masks?
The most notable difference is that the N95s are the American standard and the KN95s are the Chinese standard.
While the N95 and KN95 masks are designed to filter 95% of the small particles (0.3 microns), the N95s are approved by NIOSH. On the other hand, KN95s are not approved by NIOSH, as they are regulated by the Chinese government. The FDA has granted emergency use authorization for some KN95 masks as an alternative when N95s were not available, only if they met certain criteria. There is a considerable problem with counterfeit KN95s, so it is important to ensure that they are on the list of FDA authorized KN95 masks. The biggest revelation that a mask advertised as KN95 is counterfeit is if it has a breathing valve.
When comparing N95s and KN95s, they perform very similarly, but there are some minor differences in their standards, such as air leakage and breathability. These differences are minimal and should not affect the average person using them in public places.
Another thing to note is that N95s are more expensive than KN95s, since the latter cannot be used by healthcare professionals in the United States as medical grade personal protective equipment (PPE).
Shopping at N95 Mask Co. is easy. The brand has two styles of N95s, in addition to KN95s, surgical masks and fabric facial masks. Whichever style you choose, you can buy in small packages or in bulk. For the purpose of this review, I ordered some of the Respokare NIOSH N95s, NIOSH Cup Style N95s and KN95s. One day after placing the order, he arrived at my door, which was a pleasant surprise. Granted, he dispatched a state from New York to New Jersey, but the super fast shipment proves that the company’s production model works. There was not much time to fulfill my request.
Buy all coronavirus-related masks and supplies at N95 Mask Co. now.
Amir Ismael / Insider
Respokare NIOSH N95 is the top-of-the-range respiratory mask available from N95 Mask Co. As with any N95, it is classified to filter 95% of small particles, but thanks to an antiviral layer inside the mask, it inactivates pathogens and viruses that permeate. The added technology brings its filtration rate up to 99.9%.
For $ 49.99 a pack of four is also the most expensive option. This is about $ 12.50 each.
Amir Ismael / Insider
NIOSH’s cup-style N95s closely mimic the design of 3M’s cup-style N95s. The design allows a comfortable fit for most adults. You will not feel that the mask is directly against your nose, mouth and face, like other mask styles.
For $ 179.99 a pack of 20, the smallest possible pack, costs about $ 9 each.
Amir Ismael / Insider
If you don’t like the head and neck straps found on the two N95 models or are on a tighter budget, the KN95 mask may be the best choice for you. It has elastic ear straps and an adjustable nasal bridge.
You can get a pack of 20 KN95s for $ 59.99, which costs about $ 3 each. Buying in bulk further lowers the price per unit.
According to the CDC, it is probably safe for healthcare professionals to use N95s up to five times if the manufacturer does not provide a specific recommendation. However, as an ordinary person, it is safe to assume that your daily interactions have a much lower risk than most health professionals. You shouldn’t feel that you need to throw away your N95 after some low-risk actions, such as running to your building’s lobby to check mail, opening the front door to pick up a delivery of food or entering an almost empty restaurant. .
With that said, you should definitely discard your mask if it becomes visibly dirty, if the head and nose bridge straps are worn or broken and no longer provide a secure fit, or if you used it while in direct contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. You will also want to wash your hands thoroughly before removing the mask and keep it separate from other masks.
If you are concerned about preserving your N95s or KN95s, I recommend saving them for high-risk situations, such as going to a doctor’s appointment at a hospital, flying in airplanes or using public transport.
Although I used each style of the above masks, my personal thoughts should not be related to the style (s) you decide to buy.
Obviously, I can’t talk about their effectiveness with more authority than NIOSH, FDA and CDC, but they seem to be as good quality as other N95 masks I’ve used. I can talk about how simple it was to shop and how quickly items arrived. There is nothing worse than ordering something you really need and having to wait weeks or months for it to be delivered, but with the N95 Mask Co., you can expect your items in a timely manner.
I looked for several hospitals that bought masks from N95MaskCo. for comments on their experiences, but received no response in time for publication. I will update this story if and when I get answers.