key: cord-0825753-aeh7bc35
authors: Mattiuzzi, Camilla; Lippi, Giuseppe; Nocini, Riccardo
title: Highly efficient respirators are needed for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2
date: 2022-03-18
journal: Public Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.03.003
sha: 3b55c72525ca64043ab0f8646a7312443fb25793
doc_id: 825753
cord_uid: aeh7bc35

nan

We read with interest the recent letter of Lowe et al. [1] , who concluded that face masks provide an essentially cheaper and straightforward means for minimizing the infection risk of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 1 especially now that the new and highly infective Omicron variant has become prevalent and dominant worldwide. Nevertheless, some additional aspects can be brought in support of this conclusion. First, we have recently shown that the nasopharyngeal viral load in patients infected by the Omicron variant is up to 4-fold higher compared to those previously infected by other SARS-CoV-2 lineages, which would make the adoption of physical inter-individual barriers (like face masks) more compelling than before. The second important aspect concerns the type of mask used for preventing infections. A recent meta-analysis has estimated that the efficacy of medical or surgical mask against the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is around 30%, whilst that of N95 or equivalent masks is as high as 70%. 3 In keeping with recent data attesting that the volume of exhaled viral particles is magnified in patients infected by the Omicron lineage, 4 it seems hence advisable not only to reinforce a mask-wearing advice, but also to suggest that more efficient respirators (like N95 or similar) would be preferable to grant major protection against highly infective SARS-CoV-2 lineages such as Omicron.

It is not the time to relax yet: masks are still needed for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Public Health

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection is associated with high nasopharyngeal viral load

Comparative effectiveness of N95, surgical or medical, and non-medical facemasks in protection against respiratory virus infection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Epub ahead of print

High amounts of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols exhaled by patients with Omicron variant infection