Ministry of Health of Vietnam: Procedure for wearing and removing mask to prevent and control COVID-19

Ministry of Health of Vietnam: Procedure for wearing and removing mask to prevent and control COVID-19 (Illustration)

According to the Guidelines issued together with this Decision, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam specifically guides the process of wearing and removing masks for COVID-19 prevention and control as follows:

1. Wear and remove the mask.

* Medical masks:

Putting on Technique

- Hand hygiene.

- Open the package, take the mask out of the bag, one hand on one side:

- Place the mask on your face, with the waterproof side (blue) facing out and the absorbent side (white) facing in. One hand holds the front of the mask fixed on the face. One hand threads one side of the strap over the ear, then does the opposite to the other side.

- Use the index finger to press the metal bar on the nose so that it hugs the bridge of the nose and face.

- Use 2 fingers to hold the lower edge of the mask and pull it down slightly, bringing it in so that the mask adheres to the underside of the chin.

Removal technique:

- Remove the mask strap, do not touch the mask with your hands, and remove the mask into the waste collection bin in accordance with regulations.

- Hand hygiene.

* Masks with high filtration efficiency (e.g., N95 masks):

Putting on Technique

- Hand hygiene.

- Open the package, put the mask on the palm, the metal edge hugs the bridge of the nose, facing forward, let the strap drop freely under the hand.

- Place the mask under the chin with the nose cover facing up.

- Pull the upper wire over the head and put it in the occipital area, the wire above the ear. Pull the lower band over your head and place it on the back of your neck, below your ears. Be careful not to let the two wires cross each other at the back of the head.

- Check and adjust the strap if it is twisted or twisted.

- Place the index fingers of both hands at the top of the bridge of the nose. Adjust the nose cover so that the mask fits the nose.

- Check the tightness of the mask:

+ The mask sticks to the face due to the negative pressure. If the mask does not fully cover the face, air will pass through the gap between the mask and the face. You will need to adjust the strap tension and repeat the inhalation test.

+ Positive exhalation test: exhale forcefully; if the mask covers the face, positive pressure causes the mask to inflate slightly.If the mask does not fully cover the face, air will pass through the gap between the mask and the face. You will need to adjust the strap tension and repeat the exhalation test.

2. Mask removal technique: 

- Remove the lower wire by holding the wire behind the head, then remove the upper wire over the head. Do not let your hands touch the mask when removing it.

- Hand hygiene.

In addition, in this guide, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam also specifies some notes when wearing and removing masks, including:

- Wear the mask in the correct direction, above and below.

- Wear a mask on the inside and outside.

- Do not touch the inside of the mask when wearing it.

- Place the mask carefully to cover the mouth and nose.

- Adjust the nose frame and strap to ensure that the mask hugs the bridge of the nose and face, not allowing air to enter or exit through the gap between the mask and the face.

- Do not touch the front of the mask with your hands when removing the mask.

- After removal or whenever accidentally touching a used mask, hands should be cleaned with an alcohol-based VST solution or washed with soap and water.

- Change the mask after every clean/sterile procedure, as soon as the mask is contaminated or wet/wet, or after each shift.

- Do not reuse used masks.

More details can be found in Vietnam's Decision 5188/QD-BYT, effective from December 15, 2020.

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