This story was updated at 2 p.m. on April 13th.
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new report shows that some of the masks brought over from China by the Patriots plane were not N95 respirators, but rather the Chinese version — KN95 respirators.
The Boston Globe reports that some medical professionals have expressed concern over these masks as not being as effective as the usual N95 masks.
However, in a statement to WBZ NewsRadio, Massachusetts General Hospital President Dr. Peter Slavin called the purchase and delivery of the masks "a godsend to frontline healthcare workers in hospitals and nursing homes who have been fearful and concerned about the dire shortage of personal protective equipment."
(Gov. Charlie Baker/Twitter)
The FDA had not listed the KN95 masks under their issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) "because of concerns about fraudulent products listed as KN95."
The EUA allows for the use of certain respirators which were approved under other countries' standards.
However, the FDA says they've issued a new EUA for non-approved "N95 respirators made in China, which makes KN95 respirators eligible for authorization if certain criteria are met, including evidence demonstrating that the respirator meets certain standards."
The New York Times previously reported that the KN95 masks are almost identical to the N95 masks, with some small differences.
However, according to the Boston Globe, some medical professionals say these masks do no fit properly, and don't offer enough protection.
One doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital told the Boston Globe they while the mask would be okay for personal use, he "cannot say that a KN95 can be used in the ER."
Dr. Salvin said that infectious diseases leaders "have confirmed that a well-made KN95 is as effective as the more familiar N95. KN95s and N95s are similar products that must meet the same high standards of filtration, and they function in the same way."
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