N95 mask can be more user-friendly

The worsening of the haze has resulted in many residents here putting on a mask. I have observed, however, that they hardly use the more effective masks such as the N95, even though it is available island-wide.

Then I saw a young lady and an elderly man trying to remove their N95 masks in the bus. Both struggled because of the N95’s elastic straps, which are cumbersome for the elderly and people with long hair.

Perhaps the solution is to cut the upper and lower straps and tie a knot in each, adjusting for tightness or looseness, when putting on the mask for short periods. It may be easier and faster to remove too.

Of course, there are those who prefer to wear the mask for the whole day or are comfortable with the straps, for better effectiveness.