Should emergency medical service stuff use respirators with filtered valve in COVID-19 pandemic?

ABSTRACT

Performing medical procedures with the use of personal protective equipment may reduce the efficiency of medical procedures performed, for example, as with the current use of respiratory protection devices, including N95 or surgical masks. Healthcare workers (HCWs) using N95 respirators or medical masks may experience discomfort associated with wearing a mask when performing medical procedures, in particular those associated with increased physical activity, causing increased respiratory effort.