News & Press
To protect the health and safety of our patients and staff, ENTA will no longer permit the wearing of valved masks in any of our locations.
07/10/2020 in news
To protect the health and safety of our patients and staff, ENTA will no longer permit the wearing of valved masks in any of our locations.
A valved mask has a little plastic valve attached to the fabric on the mask. Unfortunately, the filter function only works in one direction. They don’t protect others from coughing and sneezing since they can release large respiratory droplets into the air. Which can potentially spread viral particles (including COVID-19) to others. This valved mask defeats the purpose of the CDC’s universal masking guidelines – to prevent transmission from infected individuals (with or without symptoms) to people around them.
We understand the valved masks are a little more comfortable for the wearer, but during this pandemic, a cloth mask or surgical mask is far superior. Please replace your valved mask with one of these options instead.
Washing your hands frequently and maintaining physical distancing remain the best ways out of this pandemic. A mask, without a valve, worn in public is the final piece. It shows you care about other people’s health, too.
Here are some examples of valved masks:
