Amid reeling through the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central government has issued a new advisory in containing the spread of the virus as the government has appealed to the people to refrain from using the N-95 masks with the valved respirators after it was identified that it won't mitigate the virus spread. 

The Center has written to all the states and union territories concerning the new advisory in which it has warned against the use of N-95 masks as this type of mask with the valved respirators are detrimental to the measures implemented by the government for curbing the spread of the pandemic. 

In the letter to the Principal Secretaries of the states, the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) said that there is an inappropriate use of the N-95 masks with the valved respirators by the public other than designated health workers. By stating to constrain the use of N-95 masks, the DGHS has requested the states to direct the concerned authorities to follow the use of the homemade protective masks and face covers.

In his letter, the DGHS had also highlighted the Center's earlier advisory on the use of homemade face masks and covers. Earlier in April, the government has requested to use the homemade protective face masks and directed people to adhere to the guidelines of wearing masks whenever they exit their residences.

The Center has instructed the people to wash such homemade masks every day. These homemade masks must be boiled in hot water for five minutes and the government has also appealed the people to ensure that the homemade masks and covers remain clean and fits well for the face with having no gaps on the sides.  

The government has stated that the N-95 masks with the valved respirators had been identified that it won't prevent the virus from getting out of the mask and the center has also urged every member of the family to wear a separate face cover and mask. The fresh advisory against the use of N95 masks has come amid the grounds of virus spread through the air.

According to the Union Health Ministry, India's COVID-19 tally has crossed 11 lakh. The country has reported 11,55,191 cases so far as of Tuesday morning 8 am of which 4,02,529 are active, 7,24,578 have been discharged, and 28,084 had succumbed to the virus. In the last 24 hours, the country has reported 37,148 fresh cases and 587 deaths. At the current state, India has a recovery rate of 62.72 percent.