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Which strategy for using medical and community masks? A prospective analysis of their environmental impact
Summary
Comparing disposable medical masks to reusable community masks, this study found that a wait-and-reuse strategy with medical masks offered the best balance of environmental impact and protective effectiveness during the pandemic.
The use of medical masks with a wait and reuse strategy seems to be the most appropriate when considering both environmental impact and effectiveness. Our results also highlight the need to develop procedures and the legal/operational framework to extend the use of protective equipment during a pandemic.
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