Study: Most Imported N95 Face Masks Are Ineffective

OAN Newsroom

UPDATED 11:09 AM PT — Monday, May 4, 2020

With an international shortage of personal protection equipment, the United States has been importing masks and gloves from abroad. However, the CDC’s National Personal Protective Laboratory determined a number of imported masks may be ineffective at protecting against coronavirus.

In a random study of N95 style masks coming in from Europe and Asia, 60 percent of mask styles were not able to filter at least 95 percent of airborne particulates. The study found a significant number of KN95 masks, which is the Chinese equivalent of the N95, performed far below the standard with some only filtering 30 percent of airborne particulates.

Many U.S. states and other countries have discovered similar irregularities during their own tests and have begun returning medical equipment sent from China.

“In a public health emergency, you have to have PPE,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). “..You can’t be dependent on China to have the basic equipment to save lives in the United States, that’s what this came down to.”

https://www.oann.com/study-most-imported-n95-face-masks-are-ineffective/