Where can I find the expiration date of face masks?
The manufacturer-designated shelf life or expiration date may be found on the product labeling or packaging, or you can contact the manufacturer directly.
How do I know if my respirator is expired?
NIOSH does not require approved N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) be marked with an expiration date. If an FFR does not have an assigned expiration date, you should refer to the user instructions or seek guidance from the specific manufacturer on whether time and storage conditions (such as temperature or humidity) are expected to have an effect on the respirator’s performance and if the respirators are nearing the end of their shelf life.
How to verify the authenticity of face masks purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The FDA does not have a list of all counterfeit or fraudulent products. To report fraudulent COVID-19 products to the FDA, email [email protected]. The CDC provides information on identifying counterfeit respirators at Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval.
Should I use a surgical masks or N95 respirators to protect against COVID-19?
No. Surgical masks and N95s need to be reserved for use by health care workers, first responders, and other frontline workers whose jobs put them at much greater risk of acquiring COVID-19. The cloth face coverings recommended by CDC are not surgical masks or N95 respirators. Surgical masks and N95s are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by CDC.
Do expired face masks still offer some protection against COVID-19?
Face masks and surgical masks are designed to serve as protective barriers and may still offer some protection even if they are used beyond the manufacturer’s designated shelf life or expiration date.
Can we use expired face masks or surgical masks to protect against COVID-19?
Face masks and surgical masks are designed to serve as protective barriers and may still offer some protection even if they are used beyond the manufacturer’s designated shelf life or expiration date. If there is no date available on the face mask label or packaging, facilities should contact the manufacturer. The user should inspect all masks prior to use and, if there are concerns such as degraded materials (such as elastic) or visible tears, the product should be discarded. For additional information please refer to the CDC’s Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks.
What type of mask is recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
CDC recommends community use of masks, specifically non-valved, multi-layer cloth masks, to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
What is a COVID-19 N95 respirator?
An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth.
What types of masks are most and least effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19?
See full answerResearchers at Duke University created a simple setup that allowed them to count the number of droplet particles released when people spoke the phrase “Stay healthy, people” five times in a row. First, the study participants spoke without a mask, and then they repeated the same words, each time wearing one of 14 different types of face masks and coverings.As expected, medical grade N95 masks performed best, meaning that the fewest number of droplets got through. They were followed by surgical masks. Several masks made of polypropylene, a cotton/propylene blend, and 2-layer cotton masks sewn in different styles also performed well.Gaiters ranked dead last. Also called neck fleeces, gaiters tend to be made of lightweight fabric and are often worn by athletes. Bandanas also ranked poorly.