Here's How To Easily Distinguish Fake Medical Masks From Real Ones

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - There is news about the circulation of fake medical masks again. This is indicated by the high need for wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic which is still endemic in Indonesia.

The Director of Prevention and Control of Vector and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases said that the public must understand the dangers of using fake masks that do not comply with health standards.

"Whatever the form of the mask, as long as the use of the mask does not meet the requirements, the risk of COVID-19 transmission will occur," Nadia said in a YouTube broadcast by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Sunday, April 4.

Nadia said the masks recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are masks that have a minimum of three layers.

"Make sure of course we use this according to standards. Of course we all know that this mask will provide protection for us against contracting it from the COVID-19 virus," said Nadia.

Continuing, Plt. Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices for the Ministry of Health, Arianti Anaya, explained that there is an easy way to check the authenticity of mask products in circulation.

He said that physically, medical masks such as surgical masks, N95 and KN95 for medical and non-medical needs were difficult to distinguish.

However, non-medical masks do not have a distribution permit from the Ministry because they do not meet the test standards as a medical device.

"Therefore, to avoid the wrong choice of medical masks, health workers and the public can buy medical masks that already have a distribution permit for medical devices from the Ministry of Health listed on the packaging," said Arianti.

To do this, the public can check the distribution permit number on the mask packaging box in two ways, namely the official website of the Ministry of Health and telephone services.

"If anyone finds a mask suspected of not meeting standards, immediately report the complaint via the e-watch.alkes.kemkes.go.id page and Hello Kemenkes 1500567," he concluded.