Face masks 'inadequate' and should be swapped for respirators, WHO is advised

WHO Advised to Swap Surgical Face Masks with Respirators Amid 'Inadequate' Protection Concerns

A group of experts has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its guidelines recommending surgical face masks for healthcare professionals, citing their inadequate protection against airborne pathogens. The experts argue that standard respirator-level masks should be worn every time doctors and nurses interact with patients, providing a higher level of protection.

The proposal comes at a time when the global healthcare system is facing criticism over the use of surgical masks during the Covid-19 pandemic. Estimates suggest that over 129 billion disposable face masks were used worldwide each month during the height of the pandemic, with surgical masks being the most widely available and recommended by health authorities.

Respirators designed to filter tiny particles, such as those meeting FFP2/3 standards in the UK or N95 in the US, should be standard practice for medical interactions, the experts argue. This would significantly reduce the risk of infections in patients and healthcare workers, resulting in fewer hospitalizations, sickness, absence, and burnout among health professionals.

Surgical masks, on the other hand, are not designed to stop airborne pathogens but rather to prevent doctors and nurses from sneezing into patients' faces. As one expert put it, surgical masks are "obsolete" compared to respirators, just like the typewriter was to the modern computer.

Critics argue that a lack of randomized controlled trials showing physical measures slow the spread of respiratory viruses is a flawed argument. However, experts counter that laboratory tests demonstrating respirators' effectiveness provide sufficient evidence for their use in healthcare settings.

The WHO's Infection Prevention and Control guidelines are currently under review, with the organization consulting extensively with health experts to ensure protection for health workers. The proposed changes have sparked controversy, particularly regarding the cultural war surrounding face mask mandates during the pandemic.

If implemented, these recommendations would require significant changes to global protocols and could have a profound impact on reducing infections in healthcare settings.
 
I'm telling you ๐Ÿค”... it's all about control ๐Ÿค‘. They're just trying to make us dependent on their precious respirators ๐Ÿ’Š. I mean, think about it - if we start wearing them all the time, they'll be raking it in from sales ๐Ÿ“ˆ. And what about the "culture war" surrounding face mask mandates? Sounds like a smokescreen ๐Ÿ”ฎ to me... just an excuse to push their agenda forward ๐Ÿ”„. And don't even get me started on the lab tests - I'm not buying it ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ. We need to think outside the box, question the narrative, and not just blindly follow what they're telling us ๐Ÿ‘€. Mark my words... this is all about manipulation ๐Ÿ’ญ.
 
๐Ÿค” I'm telling you, they're trying to control our air quality for more than just health reasons. Think about it, who's profiting from the sale of disposable masks? It's like they want us to be dependent on these things, so we'll never see the light and wake up to what's really going on. I mean, have you seen those 'flawed' randomized controlled trials? Sounds like a cover-up to me ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ. And don't even get me started on the cultural war around face mask mandates... it's all just a smokescreen for their real agenda. ๐Ÿšญ
 
omg the WHO is finally considering this ๐Ÿคฏ i mean it's about time they realize those surgical masks aren't doing much to protect us from airborne pathogens tbh i've been saying this for ages, especially during the pandemic when i saw how many people were getting sick and spreading it around ๐Ÿ’‰ i totally get that there's no randomized controlled trials or whatever but come on lab tests show respirators work in a lab setting what more proof do we need ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ it's crazy that some ppl are still being resistant to this change tho ๐Ÿ™„ like, let's prioritize people's health over whatever cultural thing might get in the way ๐ŸŒŸ
 
๐Ÿค” I'm all about practicality when it comes to health measures. If we're talking about protecting ourselves from airborne pathogens, why not just go for the best? Resprators are the way to go, tbh. We should be prioritizing our own protection and that of our patients over convenience. Think about it - if 129 billion disposable masks were used during the pandemic, what's a little more upfront cost in terms of respirator production? ๐Ÿ’ธ And let's not forget about the mental health aspect - burnout is real among healthcare workers, so reducing hospitalizations and sickness is a no-brainer. The fact that we're still debating this in 2025 is wild to me. ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
 
I'm still thinking about those masks from back in the Covid-19 days ๐Ÿคฏ. I mean, we used them so much it was crazy! Now experts are saying they're not enough protection? Yeah, that makes sense. Those respirators do seem way more effective at keeping germs out. I think it's time for a change. But you know what's also wild? How we've gotten to the point where wearing masks is even a topic of debate ๐Ÿ˜’. It's like, we should be talking about how to keep each other healthy, not whether we should wear a mask or not. Anyway, hope they make those changes soon so healthcare workers can have better protection ๐Ÿ’‰.
 
I think its time for the WHO to catch up on this one ๐Ÿค”. I mean, we've been wearing respirators for years in industries like construction or manufacturing, so why not in hospitals? It makes total sense that they'd want to prioritize patient and staff safety. Those surgical masks just aren't cutting it anymore ๐Ÿ’ก. And yeah, the whole "lack of randomized controlled trials" thing is a weak point โ€“ lab tests have shown respirators work way better than masks. Plus, its not like we're talking about some radical new tech here ๐Ÿ“Š, just better filters for people who already wear them.
 
idk why theyre still recommending surgical masks ๐Ÿค”... like, come on, respirators are way better protection ๐Ÿ’ช. think about all those times you've seen docs/nurses talkin bout patients coughin up weird stuff... its not just a coincidence, you feel? also, burnout among healthcare pros is REAL ๐Ÿš‘ and if we can reduce that by switchin to proper masks, thats a win in my book ๐Ÿ‘
 
๐Ÿค” I think it's about time we upgrade our PPE game! Those surgical masks just aren't cutting it anymore ๐Ÿšญ. I mean, they're like wearing a flip-flop to surgery โ€“ not ideal ๐Ÿ˜‚. We need to prioritize the safety of our health workers and patients, and respirators are the way forward ๐Ÿ’จ.

It's crazy how far we've come with face mask usage since the pandemic started, but I guess you can't keep using something that's just not up to par ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ. And yeah, I get where they're coming from with the randomized controlled trials thing, but let's be real, lab tests show that respirators work โšก๏ธ.

It's gonna take some adjusting to new protocols, but trust me, it'll be worth it ๐Ÿ’ฏ. We don't want our healthcare workers burning out or getting sick ๐Ÿค•. This change could make a huge difference in the long run ๐ŸŒŸ.
 
idk about this one ๐Ÿค”, i mean dont get me wrong respiratory viruses are super scary but i think we cant just swap out surgical masks for respirators willy nilly... like have the experts done their research or is it just "hey lets try something new" syndrome? ๐Ÿค‘ and what about all the ppl who use face masks in public places, will they just start wearing respirator levels now too? it sounds like a whole lot of extra equipment & hassle for people who already deal with anxiety about germs ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
 
I'm telling you, it's not just about the masks ๐Ÿค”. The real agenda here is control. They want us to be complacent with our current "guidelines" so we don't question the status quo. But I know the truth - they're hiding something ๐Ÿ˜. These experts are just the tip of the iceberg, and if you dig deeper, you'll find that there's a massive conspiracy brewing behind these mask changes.

Think about it, what's really going on here? The WHO is getting pressure from Big Pharma to change their guidelines, and they're more than happy to oblige ๐Ÿค‘. It's all about protecting the bottom line, not our health or safety. Mark my words, this is just the beginning of a larger plan to manipulate us into accepting a new normal.

Respirators are not the answer, my friend ๐Ÿ”’. They're just another tool in their arsenal to keep us under control. Wake up, sheeple! We need to question everything and stand up for our rights, not just blindly follow the herd ๐ŸฆŒ.
 
OMG ๐Ÿ˜ฑ this is like totally crazy! They're saying that surgical masks are obsolete ๐Ÿ’€? I mean I get it, they're not as good as respirators but come on, we can't just swap them out like that ๐Ÿคฏ. What's going to happen to all the hospitals and healthcare systems that don't have the resources for respirators? And what about patients who need surgical masks for actual surgery ๐Ÿค.

I'm also kinda annoyed at how this is being framed as a "cultural war" ๐Ÿ‘Š. Like, can we just focus on making healthcare safer without politicizing it? We should be working together to make sure our medical professionals are protected and that patients get the best care possible ๐Ÿ’•. This whole thing feels like a big mess ๐Ÿคฏ.
 
omg i totally get where these experts are coming from ๐Ÿ˜Š theyre right we cant keep relying on surgical masks alone to protect us in hospitals and clinics! respirators r way more effective against airborne pathogens, lets make sure our healthcare workers are protected ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ‘จโ€โš•๏ธ
 
I think it's about time we reevaluate our approach to keeping ourselves and patients safe from airborne pathogens ๐Ÿคง. The idea of using respirators instead of surgical face masks as the standard for medical interactions is definitely worth considering. I mean, think about it - when you're a healthcare professional, you're not just interacting with patients, you're also potentially spreading germs around the hospital ๐Ÿ’‰.

The numbers are crazy too - 129 billion disposable face masks used per month during the pandemic? That's a lot of mask-wearing, but I guess that was what we had to do back then ๐Ÿ˜ท. The thing is, surgical masks aren't designed for this purpose; they're meant to stop you from sneezing all over your patients' faces, not prevent airborne pathogens ๐Ÿคข.

I think the experts have a solid point about respirators being more effective. I mean, lab tests show that they can filter out tiny particles with ease ๐Ÿ‘. And if we could reduce the risk of infections in healthcare settings by even half, it would make such a big difference for patients and healthcare workers alike ๐Ÿค.

Of course, there are still some valid concerns about this proposal - like how do we implement these changes on a global scale? ๐Ÿ˜ฌ But overall, I think it's worth exploring further. Who knows, maybe one day we'll look back at our reliance on surgical face masks as obsolete ๐Ÿ’ป.
 
๐Ÿค” I mean, can you blame them for saying surgical masks are inadequate? I had some friends who worked as nurses during the pandemic and they told me how hard it was to keep themselves safe with those masks. It's not like they were getting a break from wearing them or anything ๐Ÿ™„. The idea that we need way better protection is not even up for debate imo.

We can't just keep going on like this where healthcare workers are risking their lives because we don't have the right gear. It's crazy to think about how many hospitals and health centers are still using those old-school surgical masks ๐Ÿคข. I'm all for change, so if respirators become the new norm that's definitely something I can get behind ๐Ÿ’ฏ.
 
I totally feel like surgical masks are just not cutting it anymore ๐Ÿค•๐Ÿ˜ท we've been relying on them for ages, but honestly, they're just not giving us the protection we need. I mean, think about all those people who wore them during the pandemic and still got infected... it just doesn't add up. ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ And can you imagine if hospitals were a lot safer places? That would be amazing! ๐Ÿ’ก Plus, respirators are so much more effective at filtering out tiny particles that could cause problems. It's about time we upgrade our game ๐Ÿ’ช.
 
Ugh, can't believe they're still debating this ๐Ÿคฏ. I mean, it's not like we've been wearing masks for years now and it's just become second nature. The idea that surgical masks aren't doing enough is kinda obvious if you ask me. My cousin works in the hospital and she's always complaining about her mask running out of filter after a few hours of use. It's just common sense to switch to respirators, you know? They're like the superhero cape for your face ๐Ÿฆธโ€โ™€๏ธ. And yeah, I get that there might be some cultural stuff going on around face masks, but let's not forget about the actual health benefits here. We've been through this pandemic thing, we should've learned by now ๐Ÿ˜Š.
 
I think its time to swap those surgical masks out for respirators ASAP ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป! I mean, 129 billion disposable face masks used worldwide each month is just crazy talk ๐Ÿ˜ณ. We know they're not cutting it when it comes to protecting against airborne pathogens. The experts are spot on with their proposal - standard respirator-level masks should be the norm for medical interactions. It's about time we upgraded our protection gear, especially with all the cases of COVID-19 still popping up ๐Ÿคข. The WHO is getting slammed on this one but I think it's a necessary change to keep healthcare workers and patients safe ๐Ÿ’ฏ.
 
ugh im still tryin to figger out what all the fuss about facemasks was like i mean dont get me wrong theyre super useful but come on respiros arent that hard to find lol anyway idk if i agree with switchin to respiros or not cuz my aunt wore a surgical mask to the store and she didnt catch anything ๐Ÿคฃ i mean what if its just stress or somethin that makes ppl sick?
 
this is so crazy ๐Ÿคฏ, like we're still debating what kind of masks are best for healthcare workers? shouldn't it be a no-brainer that they need the best protection possible ๐Ÿ™„? I mean, think about all those people who got sick and hospitalized because of medical staff not wearing proper masks ๐Ÿค•. it's time for some real change here ๐Ÿ’ช. respirators should be standard issue for everyone interacting with patients - it's just basic common sense ๐Ÿ‘.
 
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