Caution Urged with Masks Having Valves

By now, everyone knows that masks come in a variety of sizes and styles. And with varying degrees of performance. Last week, the CDC released information expressing concern with the respirator masks that have exhalation valves. Here’s the wording from their website:

“Respirators with exhalation valves protect the wearer from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but may not prevent the virus spreading from the wearer to others (that is, they may not be effective for source control). Until data are available to describe how effective respirators with exhalation valves are in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from the wearer to others:

• Wear a respirator without an exhalation valve when both source control and respiratory protection are required.
• If only a respirator with an exhalation valve is available and source control is needed, cover the exhalation valve with a surgical mask, procedure mask, or a cloth face covering that does not interfere with the respirator fit.”

Brooke Bailey, EAMC’s Infection Prevention director, explains the situation. “As we have been saying, ‘I wear a mask to protect you and you wear a mask to protect me.’ However, the masks with the exhalation valves only protect the wearer. If they have COVID-19, the virus is easily emitted from those masks and could infect someone.”

Bailey asks that people immediately discontinue wearing these respirators with exhalation valves and replace them instead with a surgical mask, procedural mask or cloth mask. She also points out that some masks that are not respirators now include exhalation valves so it’s important to avoid any masks with such valves.