No way!
https://factcheck.afp.com/novel-coronavirus-health-experts-warn-against-steaming-face-masks-reuse-af...
- Single-use masks -
The WHO listed wearing a mask as one prevention measure after the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus in this advice sheet published on January 28, 2020.
The advice reads in part: “Medical masks are surgical or procedure masks that are flat or pleated (some are like cups); they are affixed to the head with straps. Wearing a medical mask is one of the prevention measures to limit the spread of certain respiratory diseases, including 2019- nCoV, in affected areas.
“However, the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide an adequate level of protection and other equally relevant measures should be adopted. If masks are to be used, this measure must be combined with hand hygiene and other IPC measures to prevent the human-to human transmission of 2019-nCov.”
Under the “masks management” section, the WHO warned: “do not re-use single-use masks”; “discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them immediately upon removal.”
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) also explained that the two most commonly-used types of masks -- non-woven face masks and N95 respirators -- should not be reused.
“Facemasks are not intended to be used more than once… All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as ‘single use’, disposable devices,” the FDA wrote here on its website.
