What face mask for what use in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? The French guidelines

Abstract

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a face mask has become usual and ubiquitous, in both hospitals and community. However, the general public is consuming surgical or filtering facepiece (FFP) masks irrespective of their specificity, leading to a global supply shortage for the most exposed persons, who are healthcare workers. This underlines the urgent need to clarify the indications of the different categories of mask, in order to rationalize their use. This article specifies the French position for the rational use of respiratory protective equipment for healthcare workers.