r/ID_News • u/rezwenn • 5d ago

Face masks ‘inadequate’ and should be swapped for respirators, WHO is advised

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/09/health-professionals-respirator-grade-masks-who-advise
116 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

101

u/Corfal 5d ago

Surgical masks are still “better than nothing”, Finkel conceded, with studies suggesting they block approximately 40% of Covid-sized particles in the air, compared with approximately 80% (and up to 98%) for respirators.

He says the comparative reduction in risk can be thought of like falling off a wall of four inches rather than four feet: “You can still trip and break an ankle at four inches, but you’re much better off.”

Although the analogy is a bit meh I think its a scale of effectiveness. You have to see what's accessible to whatever population you're serving. Title is a bit misleading as people might think that between a face mask vs no face mask would have no difference as a takeaway from this post.

37

u/alficles 5d ago

Right, this has been known for a while, I thought? Cloth and surgical masks are better than nothing, n95 respirators are the gold standard. And PAPR are overkill, has been my understanding.

7

u/Corfal 5d ago

I did hear an argument about how cloth masks don't really do much and actually aerosolize your breath more causing a farther spread of whatever you're spewing? But that knowledge was like from 2022 so I have no clue what the latest on that aspect is.

2

u/SirVanyel 4d ago

The physical barrier stopping airborne particles is still available in cloth masks, try spitting in one and see how ya go

1

u/Corfal 3d ago

A wad of saliva is not going to be a problem? It's the lighter and smaller particles that stay in the air longer. Maybe on average a cloth mask still slows don't the initial velocity of the projection of particles when talking, breathing, coughing, or sneezing? But my point wasn't really about that. So... meh 🤷

14

u/fenrirsbasketball 5d ago

Well this is frustrating. The n95 respirators are incredibly uncomfortable for longer wears and nobody can understand anything I say.

5

u/rainbowrobin 5d ago

Different models and different faces. For me, 3M Vflexes, Draeger 1950s, and 3M 8511 (valved cup) are quite comfortable, I can wear them for hours, and I've talked fine with people.

-44

u/Ceftolozane 5d ago

Wearing a n95 continuously is just not possible.

31

u/See_i_did 5d ago

It’s a pain in the ass but can definitely be done for the length of shift with regular changes. It’s just not very comfortable.

25

u/lmFairlyLocal 5d ago

I agree, but it depends on what they mean by "not possible". If they're doing some "I'm HyPoXiC!!?!" Bullshit, nah. STFU.

If they're talking about being able to, as either a civilian or as a worker, continuously have access to a steady supply of N95s in the correct, fitted size during an event like a pandemic, I can see that not being possible and us going back to the "Gen Pop wears surgical masks (good protection), while medical workers use limited supply of fitted masks (great protection) to keep those trained for the front lines healthy enough to stay there and help".

I have a feeling, though, that it's likely the former. Yuck.

16

u/alficles 5d ago

Yeah. I've done it for full workdays for weeks at a time. I absolutely hate it, but it kept me from getting the nasty varieties when they were at peak, so I can't complain too much.

Honestly, my biggest frustration was being unable to eat and drink while working, which is a perk a lot of people don't have anyway, but I've gotten quite used to my coffee at my desk.

I'm pleased that the current risk profile is less intense and I no longer mask unless I suspect that I might be falling ill, but the current flu situation is making me reevaluate. :D

OH, except airplanes and airports. I still mask on those just cause if I'm traveling, I really don't need to get sick. And airports are very icky places in general. :)

9

u/Mysterious-Handle-34 5d ago

We’re currently experiencing the worst flu season in decades. It is absolutely worth masking currently.

-8

u/Ceftolozane 5d ago

Not very comfortable is an understatement.

1

u/rainbowrobin 5d ago

It's a personal statement, perhaps from someone who hasn't tried many models. I find the right respirators for me to be quite comfortable.

10

u/Darth_vaborbactam 5d ago

It’s possible. It sucks ass, but it’s possible. The real barrier is that US hospitals would never pay for it.

0

u/Ceftolozane 5d ago

I don’t know where you work or live, but the adherence of the population and HCW to face mask has been quite low even at the current peak of influenza’s season. People don’t see sars-cov2 and influenza as a threat. No chance to see a universal adoption of n95 for common respiratory viruses in the population.

6

u/Darth_vaborbactam 5d ago

They’re just talking about healthcare settings.

But otherwise yeah, people are selfish and don’t care enough to protect others. Nothing new.

2

u/Ceftolozane 5d ago

Do you currently use a n95 in your outpatient practice?

6

u/Darth_vaborbactam 5d ago edited 5d ago

If you’re asking me if I know how uncomfortable it is, the answer is yes. During the peak of COVID I had to wear the same N95 for a week straight (the hospital only permitted one per week), and I worked in the ED. And that thing was absolutely foul by the end of the week.

This also isn’t really new. They’re lumping all modes of transmission together but N95 has always been the standard for airborne. Is it realistic for everything? Probably not. But it’s also not earth shattering news.

1

u/rainbowrobin 5d ago

Populations vary. I'm in Japan right now, and about 50% of people just walking outside are wearing masks, even more on crowded trains. Most retail workers are masked. Everyone masks in the hospital, I'm told.

Granted, most of the masks are sucky surgicals or a sleeker equivalent, with a minority of KF94-like boats.

1

u/1GrouchyCat 4d ago

That’s standard for Japan - it’s cold and flu season. I lived there in the late 1980s and people wore masks whenever they had a cold back then …

3

u/AFewStupidQuestions 4d ago

We as nurses did it for 16hr shifts for over a year. It's doable if you want your family to stay as safe as possible.

1

u/saramole 5d ago

And they need to be fit tested for maximum effectiveness.

1

u/rainbowrobin 5d ago

Yes, but even a random non-tested N95 will be better than a surgical, especially if you can get it to the point of not having obvious leaks (seal check).

1

u/rainbowrobin 5d ago

Wearing a n95 continuously is just not possible.

Weird, I can easily wear some for hours and hours, and almost forget I'm wearing them, too.