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Table 2 Policies and guidelines on masks and respirators use by health care workers (HCWs)

From: Availability, consistency and evidence-base of policies and guidelines on the use of mask and respirator to protect hospital health care workers: a global analysis

Organization/country

Seasonal influenza

Pandemic influenza

SARS

TB

Low risk

High risk

Low risk

High risk

Low risk

High risk

Low risk

High risk

WHO [14, 30]

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators (N95)

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators (P2/3, FFP2/3, N95/99/100)

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95, FFP2)

Respirators (N95, FFP2)

CDC, [15, 21, 24, 31]

Mask (Facemasks)

Respirators (N95) or equivalent respirator (e.g., PAPR, elastomeric)

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95 or higher respirators)

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95 or higher, elastomeric or PAPR)

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95 or preferably PAPR)

UK [16, 22, 25, 34]

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (FFP3)

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (FFP3)

Respirators (FFP3), PAPR use is discouraged

Respirators (FFP3), PAPR use is discouraged

Not recommended

Respirators (FFP3)

Canada [13, 20, 26, 32]

Mask (Surgical or procedure mask)

Mask (Surgical or procedure mask)

Mask

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95), PAPR use is discouraged

Respirators (N95), PAPR use is discouraged

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95)

Australia [4, 17, 27]

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (P2 or N95)

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (P2 or PAPR)

Respirators (P2 or N95)

Respirators (PAPR)

Respirators (P2, N95)

Respirators (P2, N95)

China [10, 11, 33]

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Mask (Surgical or medical mask)

Respirators

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators

Respirators (N95)

Respirators (N95)

India [18, 35]

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (N95)

Mask (Surgical mask)

Respirators (N95)

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Not recommended

Respirators (N95 or FFP2)

Indonesia [39]

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Not discussed in pandemic plan

Not discussed in pandemic plan

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Pakistan [19, 28, 36]

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators (N95, FFP2)

Mask (Medical mask)

Respirators (N95, FFP2)

Respirator (N95 or P2)

Respirator (N95 or P2)

Not recommended

Respirators (N95 or FFP2)

Bangladesh [37, 40]

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Not discussed in pandemic plan

Not discussed in pandemic plan

Guidelines not located

Guidelines not located

Not recommended

Respirators (N95 or FFP2)

Vietnam [12, 29, 38, 41]

Mask (Facemask)

Mask (Facemask)

Appropriate selection between masks and respirators

Appropriate selection between masks and respirators

Respirator (N95)

Respirator (N95)

Not recommended

Respirators (N95)