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In May 2020, an AP News investigation discovered a massive shipment of counterfeit N95 masks had infiltrated the American medical system. All signs pointed to the masks being legitimate: They came complete with the proper shipping labels and invoices, certified letters from buyers and distributors, and interviews that traced back to a factory in China that is, in fact, a manufacturer of N95 masks certified by the Centers for Disease Control.
There was only one indication that the masks were fake: The earloops. Legitimate N95s are designed with full head-straps that are stitched, stapled or soldered directly to the respirator to provide the proper seal and force inhaled and exhaled air through the filter. The cheaper earloops, which are glued to the mask and create a more unstable seal, made the masks significantly less effective. In many cases, frontline healthcare workers were forced to simply make do.