A year into pandemic, federal officials design new mask guidelines to better protect more workers
A group of prominent scientists had written to the White House in February, saying a broader swath of U.S. workers need more protection from the airborne virus.
Written By:
Christina Jewett / Kaiser Health News |
11:46 am, Apr. 19, 2021
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A mask with 3M and N95 labeling. Unsplash
Federal officials announced new measures to help get fresh, new N95 masks to health care workers and expand their use in other industries after scientists argued that the highly protective masks are essential to keep workers safe from COVID-19.
The changes come as U.S. mask-makers say the demand from hospitals is so sluggish that they’ve laid off 2,000 workers and fear some new protective gear companies could collapse. Yet in a letter to lawmakers, hospitals cite ongoing concerns about scarce supplies, saying limits on which workers should get N95s must stay in place.