Aussie doctor Norman Swan explains how N95 masks work, and why they will always beat a cloth mask

Aussie doctor Norman Swan has explained why the N95 masks may still present some issues moving through the current wave.

The ongoing debate over the efficacy of cloth masks in preventing the spread of Covid-19 has finally come to a head, with a number of experts calling for an end to the cheaper variants as new strains take hold.

Australian Dr Norman Swan explained the efficacy of N95 or “respirator” masks, which are usually more expensive but offer far greater protection if properly fitted.

He warned it was time to move on from cloth masks, as new studies suggested they do not provide the protection health professionals once claimed.

While the ABC doctor urged Australians to buy N95 masks for better protection against Omicron, he did admit there were three problems with the face coverings.

“The problem with them is they cost a bit more, and if they don’t fit well they’re not that much better than a surgical mask. So it’s got to be comfortable around your face and a fairly tight fit.

“You can check that by breathing in, and seeing if it sucks in a little bit.”

Dr Swan also warned buyers to be wary of sellers hocking counterfeit N95 masks.

“You should buy a reliable brand,” he said. “If you’re offered one that’s really cheap and sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

“The surgical masks are the ones you should be using, but not a cloth mask.”

Dr Swan called for Aussies to upgrade to the better-equipped personal protective equipment, saying cloth masks should now be a thing of the past.

“The answer is, they don’t work well enough,” he said in a TikTok video. “So, at a minimum, you should be using a surgical mask.

“The reason cloth masks don’t work is that the cotton just doesn’t pick up the fine virus particles that it is supposed to. If I were you, I would get rid of the cloth masks.

‘The blue masks you see everyone are single use. You’ve got to be careful if it says for medical use and has an ARTG number on it, which means in theory it doesn’t do what it says it does,” he said.

“The surgical masks are the ones you should be using, but not a cloth mask.”

Close up portrait of a man using pm 2.5 pollution mask in the street of a big city.

His explanation came after United States’ top health agency declared cloth masks will not be enough to prevent people from being infected, almost two years into the pandemic.

Yesterday, we detailed how experts had instead recommended N95 or KN95 masks be worn by members of the public in places where the highly-transmissible variant is widespread.

The experts said the common blue masks worn by millions of Australians don’t do enough to keep respiratory droplets from entering the airways.

The air escaping the sides of the cloth mask is an issue, according to experts. In some cases, virus particles can pass right through a cloth mask.

Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is considering updating its mask guidance along similar lines.

The Washington Post reports that experts have been urging US President Joe Biden’s administration to recommed better masks.

An official from the CDC told the Post: “The agency is currently actively looking to update its recommendations for KN95 and N95 in light of Omicron. We know these masks provide better filtration.”

Experts say the best mask to protect against airborne particles is an N95 or KN95 mask. Australia also sells the P2 mask, which is the N95 equivalent.

Both masks are available from hardware stores, Officeworks and some chemists.

NSW Health has information about the PS mask on its website. It reads: “Disposable P2/N95 face masks (also known as P2/N95 respirators) are able to filter out very fine particles from the air when worn correctly.

“They help reduce exposure to bushfire smoke / poor air quality and associated health effects. P2/N95 face masks are widely available from hardware stores and other safety equipment suppliers.”

- with Rohan Smith