High-grade Masks Evidence Weak, Covid Inquiry Told

There is only “weak evidence” that high-grade look masks amended protected wellness workers than surgical ones successful nan pandemic, nan Covid enquiry has been told.

Prof Susan Hopkins, main aesculapian advisor astatine nan UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said respirator masks – known arsenic FFP3s – whitethorn person performed nary amended than bladed surgical masks successful real-life situations.

She said location could beryllium “significant harms” from wearing tight-fitting FFP3s, including blisters and breathing difficulties.

“If nan grounds was beardown that FFP3s really protected people, and we saw a definitive simplification [in infections], they would person been recommended,” she said.

Not each scientists work together connected what has go a arguable issue.

The BBC has antecedently reported connected research which appears to show a important real-world use from wearing higher-grade masks connected infirmary wards.

Throughout nan first 2 years of nan pandemic, groups representing doctors, nurses and different wellness workers many times called for urgent improvements to individual protective instrumentality (PPE), including nan wider usage of respirators.

FFP3s are tight-fitting masks pinch a built-in aerial select designed to artifact retired mini aerosol particles which tin transportation nan virus.

Before they tin beryllium used, each wearer must acquisition a fresh test, to make judge nan disguise is decently sealed to nan face.

For astir of nan pandemic, nationalist guidance crossed nan full UK said that healthcare workers should deterioration basal surgical masks alternatively than FFP3s, isolated from successful intensive attraction aliases a mini number of aesculapian situations.

The determination was heavy criticised by immoderate unit pinch nan doctors’ union, nan BMA, calling it a "matter of life and death".

National guidance connected look masks from April 2020 was drawn up by a group of experts from crossed nan United Kingdom known arsenic nan IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) Cell.

Its rank included representatives from nan NHS, authorities departments and wellness bodies, including Public Health England (PHE), nan organisation replaced by UKHSA successful 2021 successful a shake-up ordered by then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The enquiry was shown minutes from an IPC Cell gathering connected 22 December 2020, conscionable aft nan caller Alpha version of Covid had been detected, which appeared to show disagreement astir nan usage of higher-grade FFP3 masks.

The records quote Dr Colin Brown, now nan lawman head of objective and emerging infections astatine UKHSA but astatine nan clip pinch PHE, arsenic saying: "Our knowing of aerosol transmission has changed. A precautionary attack to move to FFP3 masks [in each healthcare settings] whilst we are awaiting grounds should beryllium advised."

However, nan wider IPC Cell decided that nary upgrading of nan guidance was warranted astatine nan time, and NHS trusts were told to proceed to proviso unit pinch modular surgical masks successful almost each cases extracurricular intensive care.

It was not until January 2022 that nan proposal changed, saying that FFP3 respirators should beryllium disposable to "all applicable staff" depending connected a consequence assessment.

By that point, nan World Health Organization, and different wellness bodies, had recognised Covid could beryllium dispersed successful mini airborne particles complete distances longer than 6.5ft (2m), thing officials said was intolerable astatine nan commencement of nan pandemic.

Prof Hopkins, who served arsenic PHE’s main Covid advisor earlier moving crossed to UKHSA, told nan enquiry that FFP3 masks offered a precocious grade of protection successful laboratory studies, but nan real-world benefits were little clear-cut.

“Where we looked astatine it, and many times looked astatine it and are still looking astatine it, nan grounds is anemic that FFP3s protected much than fluid-resistant surgical masks,” she said.

“At nan outset, successful March 2020, nan risks were that we had ne'er asked group to deterioration FFP3 masks for prolonged periods.

“We saw them get ulcers connected their faces and having challenges breathing and challenges successful being hydrated.”

Asked astir nan December 2020 IP Cell minutes, which suggested PHE was pushing behind-the-scenes for nan wider usage of respirator masks successful healthcare, Prof Hopkins said that was a "really challenging time" successful nan pandemic pinch nan UK astir to participate a 3rd activity of nan virus.

“The truth that PHE was giving and airing a different position is an illustration of [us] not being progressive successful groupthink,” she said.

The Covid enquiry is presently taking grounds astir nan effect connected nan NHS and healthcare systems crossed each 4 nations of nan UK.

More than 50 witnesses are expected to look successful this 3rd conception aliases "module", which runs until nan extremity of November.