EDITOR:

On November 30, 2021, The Daily Press ran a letter from me in which I ranked the effectiveness of masks for reducing the spread of COVID. In summary, I said that N95 masks were very good. KN95 masks were very good, surgical masks were somewhat good, and cloth masks were ineffective. This incited three letters of rebuttal, criticizing my analysis.

Tuesday January 11, the Washington Post (a left-of-center news outlet) reported that, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is weighing […] recommending Americans opt for masks health care workers traditionally wear — such as N95 or KN95 masks.” The Washington Post article continued, “Last week, following a spate of breakthrough cases among vaccinated staff and lawmakers in the U.S. Capitol, congressional staff were told KN95 masks would be provided to House staff. Previously, they were allotted only surgical masks.”

The N95 and KN95 masks have limitations. The mask manufacturers state that they are good for only 4 hours of use, before the mask should be re-processed. The manufactures state that N95 masks should be fitted and tested by a health care professional, although most amateurs put them on all by themselves.

Again, I am not a COVID nut. I recently bought a hundred KN95 masks and gave a bunch of them to my wife. I use mine mostly for airline travel and visits to nursing homes.

Ralph Blasier

Escanaba