Effectiveness of cloth masks still uncertain

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 24 -- The Penang State Health Department has advised the public to use appropriate nose and mouth covering such as the N95- type face masks as a form of protection during the haze.

Its director Dr Asmayani Khalib said although there were various types of face masks available in the market such as cloth masks, its effectiveness was still uncertain.

“There are various types of cloth masks in the market (however) we cannot determine the specification in detail. Therefore, our advice is to use the N95 face mask when outdoors,” she told Bernama.

Dr Asmayani was commenting on the selling of various designed cloth masks in the state.

She said if he public was unable to get the N95 face mask, they could use the three-ply masks.

-- BERNAMA