Lecturers in Massachusetts are questioning the effectiveness of the "non-medical" KN95 masks that have been distributed amongst faculty districts final month amid the surge in COVID instances.

The masks delivered are supposed to present safety for public faculty workers and college students as they return after the vacation break amid the unfold of the Omicron variant.

Nonetheless, the Massachusetts Lecturers Affiliation (MTA) argued that the Chinese language-brand masks do not present sufficient safety in opposition to the virus and accused Governor Charlie Baker of not prioritizing public well being. The masks are manufactured by Fujian Pageone and labeled "non-medical."

Nonetheless, Baker mentioned on Monday, in response to CBS Boston, that the "roughly 6 million" masks distributed to high school districts have been examined by the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how (MIT) and "have been deemed to be about 85 p.c efficient."

The MTA president Merrie Najimy mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that Baker's declare "has now been confirmed unsuitable , and to claim it was negligent and dismissive."

The affiliation identified that Gregory Rutledge, a chemical engineering professor at MIT, mentioned that MIT did not take a look at the KN95 masks that have been delivered to high school districts.

MIT helped in assessing the efficacy of KN95 and N95 masks in spring 2020 to make sure healthcare employees are protected, in response to the affiliation's assertion, however Rutledge mentioned that his lab did not take a look at the KN95 masks in query.

"The governor is placing public relations over public well being," Najimy added.

In an e-mail despatched to superintendents and college officers, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Training (DESE) confirmed that the masks haven't been examined by MIT.

Millions of KN95 Masks Sent to Massachusetts
Six million masks have been delivered to high school districts in Massachusetts to supply safety in opposition to the virus as college students and college workers return from the vacation break. Right here, an indication on the fence outdoors of Lowell elementary faculty asks college students, workers and guests to put on a masks to stop the unfold of COVID-19 on January 5 in Chicago, Illinois. Picture by Scott Olson/Getty Pictures

"As you already know, DESE distributed KN95 masks to districts final week. We obtained an replace from MEMA [Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency] as we speak that among the masks within the distribution, masks marked 'non-medical' haven't been examined at MIT as beforehand thought," the e-mail learn, in response to Wednesday Tweet by Patricia Kinsella, an Interim Superintendent at Pioneer Valley Regional College District.

Nonetheless, the division added that the KN95 masks distributed "stay efficient" and defend in opposition to COVID when worn correctly per CDC tips.

Although the DESE mentioned that the KN95 masks make up "some" of the 6 million masks distributed to high school districts, no particulars have been revealed about what number of they have been in that cargo.

A DESE spokesperson advised Boston.com on Wednesday that faculty districts obtained "two various kinds of masks—among the non-medical, and a few that aren't labeled, that are those examined by MIT."

The efficacy of the KN95 masks has been questioned by federal businesses together with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) and the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA).

In June 2020, the CDC mentioned that the KN95 masks have a "most and minimal filter effectivity was 45.80 p.c and 25.20 p.c, respectively" which is under the 95 p.c NIOSH minimal commonplace for respirators.

Additionally in 2020, the FDA rescinded its authorization for the KN95s masks for not assembly the company's emergency use authorization eligibility standards.

Newsweek reached out to the DESE and the governor's workplace for remark.