Reply to the letter.

To the Editor:

I appreciate the valuable comments regarding my article [1]. The letter includes important ideas for performing regional anesthesia in patients with COVID-19. Because regional anesthesia is not an aerosol-generating procedure, it is generally considered to be at a lower risk than general anesthesia, which requires airway intervention [2]. However, care should be taken to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 infection even when the patient undergoes surgery under regional anesthesia. The letter reminds us of the importance of infection control not only during surgery but also during regional anesthesia procedures. When performing peripheral nerve block for upper limb surgery or performing neuraxial anesthesia, anesthesiologists and nurses who assist in patient positioning may be close to the patient’s face. I agree with the usefulness of using N95 respirators under the oxygen masks on awake patients in the operating room to limit particles.