Covid-19: Health and social care workers need, want, and deserve reusable FFP3 respirators

Use of airborne precautions for COVID-19 outside “AGPs” in healthcare settings

“…PPE was in short supply in early 2020, [9] which may have made rationing more appropriate, but supply chains have largely recovered -and reusable PPE has both environmental and cost savings. [10] Fit-testing staff adds burden to infection control teams, but NHS trusts which have made the switch have demonstrated it is possible, and there is evidence that reusable elastomeric respirators (but not disposable FFP3 masks) may be used safely with a "fit check" alone. [11] It is clear that tighter-fitting masks can be less comfortableparticularly if the fit is not suitable for the user, but surveyed staff appear in general to prefer the higher level of protection.…”