The UK’s Covid inquiry has heard that there is only “weak evidence” that high-grade face masks, such as FFP3 respirators, provided significantly better protection for healthcare workers compared to standard surgical masks during the pandemic. Prof Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), stated that while FFP3 masks offer high protection in laboratory settings, their real-world benefits were less clear. She noted potential “significant harms” from wearing FFP3s, such as blisters and breathing difficulties, which complicated their widespread use.
During much of the pandemic, healthcare workers were generally advised to wear surgical masks, with FFP3 masks reserved for intensive care or high-risk settings. However, the guidance was criticized by healthcare unions like the British Medical Association (BMA), calling it a “matter of life and death.” Despite early disagreements, the official guidance on FFP3 masks was not updated until January 2022, following recognition that Covid could spread through tiny airborne particles.
The inquiry is ongoing and will continue to examine how the NHS and healthcare systems across the UK managed the pandemic.