Thread by @ZiadFazel

Because #COVIDisAirborne + Canada's worst-governed provinces are now in a massive 3rd wave, I decided to upgrade from mask to N95-style respirator.

Just in time, @cbcmarketplace lab-tested 14 available respirators. 7 passed. I found 3 in Calgary stores.

cbc.ca/news/canada/ma…

I am sharing my buying experience, including links and prices, to help others. H/T @RajBhardwajMD for the Marketplace story.

The new Variants of Concern are much more transmissible (stickier) than the coronavirus we encountered last spring. We need better than the usual masks.

Demand >> supply for true N95 respirators for healthcare workers exposed to infected people, so @cbcmarketplace looked at respirators meeting Chinese KN95 & Korean KF94.

These are now available because #ZeroCOVID countries no longer need as many.

blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-…

Lowes WORKPRO Respirator Mask Item 2500091
$20 for box of 10 = $2 each.

lowes.ca/product/workpr…

It just comes in a nondescript box of "Face Masks" but @cbcmarketplace found over 96% filtration of the key 0.3 µm size. Which meets China's GB2626 standard for KN95.

Depending on how much I get RT, this hidden gem currently has lots of stock in 2 cities I checked: Calgary & Toronto. Hope @Lowes_Canada can restock if there is a run on inventory.

See comparison to my current 2-layer cloth mask with disposable filter.

albertaapparel.com/collections/no…

I don't wear an N95 for work, and have only used them a few times during home renovations, so the experience was new.

It feels like wearing a suction cup, whereas my cloth mask felt like a tight scarf. Earloops are sturdy & tight.

Not unpleasant, just understandably different.

Costco MedSup Canada KN95 Item 2459197
$15 for box of 20 = $0.75 each (until 2 May 2021) in their weekly flyer.

Price increased in online catalog from $20 to $23 in last week 🤬 but "marked down" to $18 until 2 May. @cbcmarketplace @AshaTomlinson

costco.ca/kn95-disposabl…

I am not a Costco member, so do not have my own buying experience. Neither is my MD friend who asked me to look into it, because his patients ask him about it.

If anyone has bought them, please share pictures and your review, in the same or better way than I did.

Dollarama Medi Care KN95
$4 each sold in packages of 1 only.

IMHO, this is a ripoff, and takes advantage of people in poorer areas. It was also the most dangerous indoor place I have ever been in: masks 50% chinstrap, 50% dangling loose below nose.

@threadreader unroll

I feel bad for employees there, wearing cloth masks in that dangerous environment, while selling overpriced KN95 respirators.

Dollarama ended their COVID-19 pay raise in August. It cost only $11m of $139m Q2 profits; they earned $162m in Q3 without it.

cbc.ca/news/business/…

I did not buy the Dollarama KN95, instantly regretted walking into the store, and got out as fast as I could after taking the photo.

@threadreaderapp unroll please

My thread on some @cbcmarketplace-tested N95-style respirators available in Canadian stores, FYI.

#COVIDisAirborne

@GosiaGasperoPhD @DFisman @AntibioticDoc @jvipondmd @AmyTanMD @RajBhardwajMD @TehseenLadha @dupuisj @shazmamithani @ShawnaGofABPoli @caruzycki @KimKellyMD

Here is a picture sent to me today from Costco in Calgary Sunridge. See above in thread for details.

(BTW, 1.7 km of Lowe’s in Calgary Sunridge).

@ChahalGeorge