SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A top infectious disease expert and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have said that the public should not rely on N95 masks to guard against the Wuhan virus, even as they fly off the shelves at pharmacies. Instead, surgical masks are more appropriate in this case, the expert and MOH said on Wednesday (Jan 22). Surgical masks can help reduce the spread of the virus and are more practical for the general public to use. N95 masks, which are tighter fitting, are designed to effectively filter airborne particles. National Centre for Infectious Diseases executive director Leo Yee Sin told The Straits Times that N95 masks are not recommended for the general public.

Source: The Star January 23, 2020 05:48 UTC