Swap out your cloth masks for KN95s—these are the No. 1 new release on Amazon right now
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From the first few weeks of widespread quarantine, medical experts agreed that N95 masks should be saved for frontline medical professionals. They’re top-notch in filtering out particles, and the docs, nurses and admins in COVID wards needed them most.
N95s are still to be reserved for folks working directly with patients, but there’s one mask that’s nearly as effective: the KN95 mask. This is the mask recommended for us laypeople. It’s much better than the cute cloth masks we’re wearing. So if you want the most medically effective mask available, KN95s are the way to go.
KN95 masks are very similar to N-95 masks, Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. In fact, during the early days of the pandemic when medical-grade masks were in particularly short supply, the FDA granted what’s known as ‘emergency use authorization’ for KN95 masks—meaning they could be used (at that time) in hospitals.
“The basic difference [between N95 and KN95 masks] is regulatory,” explains Dr. Kavita Patel, managing director of clinical transformation at The Brookings Institution’s Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform. “KN95 masks are approved by Chinese regulators, and in theory they are similar to N95 masks, which are approved by the FDA— but are also likely to be manufactured in China.”
KN95 masks filter out more than 95 percent of particles. The No. 1 new release on Amazon is the Covaflu KN95 masks, by Clinova, a British consumer healthcare company. The three-dimensional design makes it easier to breathe over long periods. And lucky for all of us, they’re available right now at Amazon. Soft and individually wrapped, with elastic ear loops, these masks are sold in a pack of 10. At $30 per box, the price per mask is just $3.
As you know from experience, many masks are less than comfortable. But the Covaflu KN95 masks have garnered an average 4.4 rating on Amazon, with over 800 reviews—many of which point to comfort.
“These face masks seem to do a great job!” one shopper said. “They are comfortable, don’t get too hot and leave enough room so that you can talk and be understood. Not too expensive. And the metal strap at the top seems to offer a nice, tight, safe fit! I appreciate the moderate amount of freedom this well-designed mask allows during these most difficult of times! I am purchasing more NOW!”
We’re all feeling grateful to (and concerned about) our nation’s teachers right now, so we were glad to see this review from one educator who was relieved to find this mask: “Comfortable, easy to breathe in, and offers some protection. As a teacher, I noticed my voice isn’t as muffled as in some cloth masks....”
And as travel opens up, thoughts from this shopper are helpful: “We were flying to Mexico and wanted a higher level of mask for air travel. I found these masks and am so glad I bought them. They were more comfortable than our cloth masks and had a good seal. I felt much better wearing this than my basic cloth mask. We will definitely be buying more.”
A plus: The Covaflu KN95 masks are produced on a fully traceable supply chain, so you can learn exactly where your KN95s come from, if you want to. Stock up, folks. Even as things improve, it becomes clear that mask-wearing is going to be part of life for awhile. Thanks in advance for taking things seriously, taking care of yourself and taking care of your community.
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