In an interesting development, Centre has written to all the states and Union territories cautioning them against the use of N-95 masks with valved respirators by people, says a PTI report.

It reportedly said that the masks cannot contain the spread of the contagion, and are contrarily detrimental to the measures being adopted for the containment of the virus.

The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Ministry of Health, in a letter to the Principal Secretaries of health and medical education of states, has highlighted the "inappropriate" use of the said masks, particularly those with valved respirators, by the public and other designated health workers.

The report quoted DGHS Rajiv Garg as saying, "It is to bring to your knowledge that the use of valved respirator N-95 masks is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of coronavirus as it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask."

The letter further says, "In view of the above, I request you to instruct all concerned to follow the use of face/mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N-95 masks."