How many times can a KN95 mask be reused and how to do it correctly?

Due to the expansion of the Omicron variant, the authorities have asked to improve the type of masks used, calling for avoiding cotton and cloth, and preferring disposable ones and the N95 and KN95 variety.

The latter have proven to be more effective in protecting against coronavirus microparticles, said a study conducted by Joseph G. Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at the T.H. Chan Professor of Public Health at Harvard University.

Although the experts recommend that masks be used only once, the truth is that they can last longer. This was detailed by the George Washington University academic, Michael G. Knight to the Washington Post. Of course, its durability is directly related to the correct integrity that it maintains, which will depend on how many times and how long it has been used.

“If I just put on a mask to go to the grocery store for 45 minutes and take it off, that mask should very well be able to last a couple of days,” Knight said.

The situation changes when its use has been prolonged for more than 6 hours. For example, during a work shift in which you have been sweating and talking continuously, it will already be very dirty at that point, the professional explained. The same would happen if it were used for 3 hours but on a daily basis.

It is recommended to use the KN95 only up to five times, but not for more than two hours each time.

Give the mask a break

Richard M. Carpiano, also an academic from the University of California, explained that the ideal is to wear several masks to rotate. This since it is advisable to 'give them a break' between uses.

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“That way, after wearing a mask, it can be stored for a few days and then used again,” the public health specialist explained.

It is important to emphasize that this reuse must be related to the correct integrity of the product, since if they are visibly dirty or deteriorated, they should not be used again.

Letting the masks “breathe” serves to give them time to act and kill any type of virus particles. For this reason, Carpiano recommends letting them rest for a period of 24 to 48 hours.

And how to store them?

To remove the mask, Knight stressed that people should wash and sanitize their hands well before removing them. He also recommended that it should be done from the elastic bands or earmuffs thus avoiding damaging and touching the outer part which could be contaminated.

The proper way to store a mask to prolong its use is a paper or mesh bag, ideally one that can be ventilated, said Christopher Sulmonte, project manager for the biocontainment unit at John Hopkins University.

It is normal for the mask to get damp, especially the KN95, which is quite dense, so it is advisable to let it dry in a well-ventilated place that is clean of possible contaminants.

But when do you have to throw away the mask?

The moment the mask has dirt stains or even has odors lodged in it, it is the first sign that it should be replaced. "It's the point that that mask needs to be replaced," Knight recommended.