FDA changes course and allows China’s KN95 mask to be used in US

In response to continued respirator shortages, the FDA issued new guidance, authorizing KN95 respirators if certain criteria are met, including evidence demonstrating that the respirator is authentic.The move comes after conflicting government guidance caused confusion over how these masks should be used and whether they could be imported into the US.LISTEN: The Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction PodcastThe FDA did not include these masks on its initial guidance for emergency use issued last month, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the KN95 masks are “expected to be suitable alternatives” to the N95 masks during the coronavirus pandemic when supplies are short. The differing guidance left suppliers hesitant to ship masks and US buyers wary of purchasing them. On March 28, the FDA listed masks from six countries, including Mexico and Brazil, that it found “appropriate to protect public health or safety,” but left the Chinese masks off the list.