NYT: Disposable N95 Masks Can Be Decontaminated
Disposable N95 Masks Can Be Decontaminated, Researchers Confirm
The National Institutes of Health released research showing N95 masks can be used more than once using certain decontamination methods to prevent infection from the coronavirus, a claim that has been proven from previous research but never specifically for COVID-19. The researchers found that using vaporized hydrogen peroxide or ultraviolet light are preferred methods since masks can still function for at least three rounds of decontamination, while dry heat at 158 degrees Fahrenheit was effective for two rounds of decontamination, but ethyl alcohol was not recommended because it degraded the mask material despite killing the virus. (The New York Times)