The N-95 respirator sold off the shelves during the initial days of the pandemic. Because of this the government had stressed on the use of homemade masks for the general population. In April it issued an advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth asking people to wear it particularly when they step out of their residences. But now these masks are back in the market and many people wear the same. However the ones with valves apparently do not provide adequate protection against COVID-19. Valved N-95 masks may be detrimental for virus containment The Centre