As the Omicron variant spikes COVID-19 infection rates, many health experts advise switching to the most protective face masks available: N95 and KN95 masks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has maintained that wearing masks regardless of vaccination status is crucial step in curbing the spread of coronavirus. With Omicron in play, experts now recommend the use of a high-filtration face covering such as a KN95 or N95 mask, which are more effective than a surgical mask and offer even more superior protection than that of a cloth mask. In the early pandemic panic, supplies of the preferred N95 and KN95 masks were decimated, and officials urged the public to reserve remaining quantities for healthcare workers and others on the front lines. Fortunately, the N95 and KN95 supply has since recovered. Precision Scale & Balance's laboratory products division, Niagara Scientific Products, maintains a large inventory of KN95 masks ready for immediate shipment from our Lancaster, NY warehouse. Many of our suppliers have plentiful stock of N95 masks that can ship quickly, even directly to you in some cases. In a Jan. 3 article from CBS New York, Dr. Geeta Nayyar, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami, describes the N95 face mask as the gold standard for protection from the virus. The number 95 in the name signifies that 95% of particles are kept at bay, including the Omicron variant, she said. Niagara Scientific Products sources KN95 and N95 masks from reputable and approved manufacturers, including 3M. Order from our dedicated PPE website at the links below.