Healthcare staff in the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities should be using N95 masks, not surgical masks.

The Society has recently made fresh representations to the Ministry of Health (MoH) on the matter.

Nurses Society director David Wills says it is accepted that even with best, infection control and prevention practice, occasional occupational transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is inevitable in these facilities.

“That said, we have expressed concern that healthcare staff in the MIQ facilities have generally only had access to and worn surgical masks, “he said.

We have called for N95 masks, rather than just surgical masks, to be used for all staff or, at the very least, all healthcare staff in the managed isolation facilities and all staff in the quarantine facilities.  

N95 respirators afford a significantly higher degree of protection than surgical masks against both aerosol and droplet transmission of SARS-CoV-2. 

The Society anticipates new guidelines for MIQ personnel will be released by MoH on this shortly.

Healthcare staff in the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities should be using N95 masks, not surgical masks.

The Society has recently made fresh representations to the Ministry of Health (MoH) on the matter.

Nurses Society director David Wills says it is accepted that even with best, infection control and prevention practice, occasional occupational transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is inevitable in these facilities.

“That said, we have expressed concern that healthcare staff in the MIQ facilities have generally only had access to and worn surgical masks, “he said.

We have called for N95 masks, rather than just surgical masks, to be used for all staff or, at the very least, all healthcare staff in the managed isolation facilities and all staff in the quarantine facilities.  

N95 respirators afford a significantly higher degree of protection than surgical masks against both aerosol and droplet transmission of SARS-CoV-2. 

The Society anticipates new guidelines for MIQ personnel will be released by MoH on this shortly.