NBA to mandate players wear KN95 or KF94 masks - report

The NBA is poised to issue yet another mask mandate, requiring players to wear KN95 or KF94 masks.

Jeremy Lamb wears a mask as he warms up for an NBA contest on January 27. - AP

The NBA is poised to issue yet another mask mandate, requiring players to wear KN95 or KF94 masks, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

The policy is expected to go into effect next week once the league distributes the masks to every team, per the report. It’s the latest effort by the league to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among players, coaches and staff.

Last month the league made it mandatory practice for dressed and active players to wear masks on the bench until they enter a game.

The NBA has postponed 23 games so far this season due to health and safety protocols.

The KN95 and KF94 masks are similar and come close to the filtration found in N95 masks, that are reserved for medical professionals. KF stands for Korean filter; KN is the Chinese equivalent to N95 masks. The KF94 captures 94 percent of particles in the air whereas the KN95 captures 95 percent.