On Apr. 15, 2020, N95 respirators can be decontaminated effectively and maintain functional integrity for up to three uses, according to National Institutes of Health scientists. N95 respirators are designed for single-use and are worn by healthcare providers to reduce exposure to airborne infectious agents, including the virus that causes COVID-19./p>

The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, and the results were posted on the preprint server medRxiv. The findings were not yet peer-reviewed but are being shared to assist the public health response to COVID-19.