The Canadian government said Thursday one million KN95 masks it has purchased from China are unfit for use by frontline healthcare professionals, as they do not meet federal requirements and will not be distributed to provinces or cities, reports Politico.

The KN95 mask is a Chinese model similar to the N95 rating developed by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, though the masks in question did not meet the required filtering standards for N95-type masks. N95 masks are rated to capture 95% of tiny particles.  

"Due to intense global competition for personal protective equipment and medical supplies, countries are engaging with a diverse number of new suppliers and manufacturers to meet the demands of the COVID-19 response effort," said Eric Morrissette, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Canada's Public Health Agency.

"As a result, the agency is conducting its due diligence on products procured by [Public Services and Procurement], verifying the quality of procured and donated supplies upon receipt," he said.

Canada's Public Health Agency is screening all medical supplies it purchases, as the country is forced at times to purchase vital personal protective equipment from unfamiliar suppliers.

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