Multiple speakers on townhall claim KN95s given to teachers were not FDA approved/were counterfeit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought N95s were the ones that got approval, and KF95s were not — which is why you are only supposed to use N95s in medical settings.

Most medical professionals don’t even use N95s, certainly not all the time.

There’s a wacko dad in our PTA that keeps composing about this too. Some people will never be happy.

[Anonymous]

My school distributed a mask to each staff member last week. After opening it and seeing how flimsy it was compared to the KN95 masks I already have, I put it in my desk to possibly wear in combination with another mask. I was not surprised AT ALL to find out they are counterfeit! We all know that we have to look out for ourselves and cannot trust the school system to provide us with the material we need to stay safe.

[Anonymous]

I mean they each got one mask right? Not going to go far anyway. Maybe they should just give staff an allowance to buy their own masks.

FWIW, DH is an essential worker and aside from an emergency stash of surgical masks at his workplace, employees are expected to provide their own masks. We’ve done a poor job as a country with this sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My school distributed a mask to each staff member last week. After opening it and seeing how flimsy it was compared to the KN95 masks I already have, I put it in my desk to possibly wear in combination with another mask. I was not surprised AT ALL to find out they are counterfeit! We all know that we have to look out for ourselves and cannot trust the school system to provide us with the material we need to stay safe.

One mask a week is absurd. You should get one mask a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean they each got one mask right? Not going to go far anyway. Maybe they should just give staff an allowance to buy their own masks.

FWIW, DH is an essential worker and aside from an emergency stash of surgical masks at his workplace, employees are expected to provide their own masks. We’ve done a poor job as a country with this sort of thing.

Saying you are an essential worker means nothing. Big difference from a hospital -medical employee and someone working at a desk in an office.

[Anonymous]

Research scientist here.

N95, FFP2, KN95 and KF94 (respectively from the USA, Europe, China, S. Korea) all have strict standards of manufacture, and are all approved for emergency use, if they go through the right channels, for protection against Covid-19.

The problem is that a lot of unapproved, and a smaller number of counterfeit, masks have been produced since the beginning of the pandemic. These might not protect at all against viral spread, and so are not recommended for use.

I don't know whether these masks are counterfeit or not, but fakes have been a huge problem since 2020, so I wouldn't be surprised that MCPS mistakenly bought the wrong masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought N95s were the ones that got approval, and KF95s were not — which is why you are only supposed to use N95s in medical settings.

Most medical professionals don’t even use N95s, certainly not all the time.

There’s a wacko dad in our PTA that keeps composing about this too. Some people will never be happy.

Teachers are forced to work in difficult situation. The deserve new N95 every day. They are doing a job the same parents complaining aren't willing to do.

[Anonymous]

"Counterfeit"...ha. None of the non-hospital n95s are "FDA approved". They are 5 layer masks all made in china that are - if fit properly - better than a surgical mask but not by a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean they each got one mask right? Not going to go far anyway. Maybe they should just give staff an allowance to buy their own masks.

FWIW, DH is an essential worker and aside from an emergency stash of surgical masks at his workplace, employees are expected to provide their own masks. We’ve done a poor job as a country with this sort of thing.

What is his job? Lots of different types of essential workers, not all interact constantly with the public in confined places..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Research scientist here.

N95, FFP2, KN95 and KF94 (respectively from the USA, Europe, China, S. Korea) all have strict standards of manufacture, and are all approved for emergency use, if they go through the right channels, for protection against Covid-19.

The problem is that a lot of unapproved, and a smaller number of counterfeit, masks have been produced since the beginning of the pandemic. These might not protect at all against viral spread, and so are not recommended for use.

I don't know whether these masks are counterfeit or not, but fakes have been a huge problem since 2020, so I wouldn't be surprised that MCPS mistakenly bought the wrong masks.

Before making a huge purchase someone with common sense should have checked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought N95s were the ones that got approval, and KF95s were not — which is why you are only supposed to use N95s in medical settings.

Most medical professionals don’t even use N95s, certainly not all the time.

There’s a wacko dad in our PTA that keeps composing about this too. Some people will never be happy.

Oh, they do. And if you work in a medical building where they don't, that's something you need to take up with management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Research scientist here.

N95, FFP2, KN95 and KF94 (respectively from the USA, Europe, China, S. Korea) all have strict standards of manufacture, and are all approved for emergency use, if they go through the right channels, for protection against Covid-19.

The problem is that a lot of unapproved, and a smaller number of counterfeit, masks have been produced since the beginning of the pandemic. These might not protect at all against viral spread, and so are not recommended for use.

I don't know whether these masks are counterfeit or not, but fakes have been a huge problem since 2020, so I wouldn't be surprised that MCPS mistakenly bought the wrong masks.

Counterfeit KN95's were a huge problem way before 2020. Masks are in use in other countries due to smog/virus. Counterfeits have been a problem for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask yourself where MCPS could obtain a couple hundred thousand certified N95 masks on very short notice during the Omicron surge.

I know! I know!

They should have ordered safe masks in July when they were opening schools and decided they’d never close for absolutely any reason. Really any time was a good time to order legit masks.

That’s when they should have ordered them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask yourself where MCPS could obtain a couple hundred thousand certified N95 masks on very short notice during the Omicron surge.

I know! I know!

They should have ordered safe masks in July when they were opening schools and decided they’d never close for absolutely any reason. Really any time was a good time to order legit masks.

That’s when they should have ordered them.

Probably on ebay from China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Research scientist here.

N95, FFP2, KN95 and KF94 (respectively from the USA, Europe, China, S. Korea) all have strict standards of manufacture, and are all approved for emergency use, if they go through the right channels, for protection against Covid-19.

The problem is that a lot of unapproved, and a smaller number of counterfeit, masks have been produced since the beginning of the pandemic. These might not protect at all against viral spread, and so are not recommended for use.

I don't know whether these masks are counterfeit or not, but fakes have been a huge problem since 2020, so I wouldn't be surprised that MCPS mistakenly bought the wrong masks.

Counterfeit KN95's were a huge problem way before 2020. Masks are in use in other countries due to smog/virus. Counterfeits have been a problem for years.

Not nearly as much as now, my friend. The unauthorized and fakes just exploded and can be bought all over Amazon.