Perspective:

This Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians suggests that persons should seek guidance from the local community and statewide public health guidelines for mask use in light of the absence of evidence in the community setting to reduce the risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the health care setting, evidence showed that N95 respirators may reduce the risk for SARS-CoV-1 infection compared with surgical masks or no masks and regardless of use of masks, it is essential to strictly follow all other infection prevention and control measures (such as hand hygiene, physical distancing, and others) along with appropriate use of other PPE (such as gowns, gloves, and goggles). Finally, no evidence is available about the effectiveness of extended use or reuse of N95 respirators in health care settings, but extended use of N95 respirators is preferable to reuse of N95 respirators because it involves less touching of the respirator, thus less risk for contact transmission.