Q: What kind of masks can be reused?
1. N95 respirators
When respirators are in short supply, you may consider reuse, five times maximum.
Research shows that N95 respirators can still keep out 95% of particles in the air after used for two days.
Discard any respirator that is damaged, soiled or becomes hard to breathe through.
2. Surgical masks
Reuse is allowed as long as masks have been used and stored properly.
The mask should be discarded when becoming damaged, soiled, or moist.
Q2: How to handle facemasks properly?
1. N95 respirators
Wash hands before and after putting on the mask, especially when it is used for the second time, to avoid any contact with viruses or bacteria on the outside of the mask.
Put on the mask in accordance with instructions and then perform a user seal check.
Hold one of the ear loops and then lift and remove the mask. Avoid touching the outside and the inside of the respirator.
Hang used respirators in dry and ventilated areas such as hallways, or put them in a clean and breathable container such as a paper bag between uses.
2. Surgical masks
Hang used masks in dry and ventilated areas such as hallways, or put them in a clean and breathable container such as a paper bag between uses.
Avoid putting the mask in a sealed plastic bag. Otherwise, moisture in the mask will stay.
Q3: Can masks be washed or disinfected?
It is not recommended to wash and disinfect masks. Their headgear components may become deformed or loose, and then their filter efficiency undermined and filter layers damaged. If so, the masks will fail to block air particles.
Excerpt from CCTV News
(Translated by School of Foreign Languages of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine)
Q：哪些口罩可以重复使用?
N95等防护口罩
· 在口罩紧缺的情况下，可以多次使用（建议不超过5次）；
· 从一些已有的研究来看，在佩戴2天后，仍能达到95%的过滤效果；
· 如果出现以下2种情况，一定不要再使用：口罩有破损、脏污；呼吸阻力变大。
医用外科口罩
· 正确摘取及保存可以二次使用；
· 如果口罩出现破损、脏污或湿透，不要再使用。
Q：如何正确保存口罩？
1. N95等防护口罩保存方法
· 佩戴口罩前后需要洗手，特别是二次佩戴，以避免沾染口罩表面病毒、细菌；
· 佩戴口罩时按照说明佩戴，并进行气密性检查；
· 用单手拉住口罩带子，取下口罩，千万不要接触口罩的内外面；
· 取下后可以悬挂在干燥、通风的地方（如玄关），或者可以装入干净的透气容器中（如纸袋）。
2. 医用外科口罩保存方法
· 取下口罩后可以悬挂在干燥、通风的地方（如玄关），或者装入干净的透气容器中（如纸袋）；
· 不要放进密封的塑料袋里保存，口罩佩戴后会有很多水汽，要让水汽尽快挥发。
Q：口罩可以清洗、消毒吗?
清洗、消毒过程可能造成口罩变形，头戴部件老化、变松，导致过滤效率下降，过滤层受损，无法达到气密性要求。所以不建议大家自行消毒。
（来源：央视新闻）
（湖北中医药大学提供翻译）
