Placing a mask on COVID-19 patients during high-flow nasal cannula therapy reduces aerosol particle dispersion.

Wearing a surgical/procedure mask over high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) reduces aerosol particle concentrations in the patients' vicinity. Wearing a mask over HFNC should be encouraged to reduce risks of aerosol transmission. #COVID19 https://bit.ly/2HLg5cE.
Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: J. Li reports receiving funding from Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Ltd and Rice Foundation, and lecture honorarium from AARC and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Ltd. Conflict of interest: J.B. Fink is chief scientific officer for Aerogen Pharma Corp, developing drug device products for the critical care setting. Conflict of interest: A.A. Elshafei has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: L.M. Stewart has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: H.J. Barbian has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S.H. Mirza has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: L. Al-Harthi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: D. Vines reports consultancy fees from Ohio Medical and grants from Teleflex Medical outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: S. Ehrmann reports grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, and grants from Hamilton medical, during the conduct of the study; and grants, personal fees and nonfinancial support from Aerogen Ltd and La Diffusion Technique Française, outside the submitted work.
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