In June 2020, the team coordinating the Homemade Mask Virtual Summit at Tulane University interviewed Dr. Songer about the science behind masks and invited Dr. Songer to give the Keynote Address for the summit. This post contains the audio and transcripts of Dr. Songer’s Keynote Speech: “Masks Unmasked: A Look at the Science Behind Fabric […]
Masks for the Blind During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In this post, we hear from Matt White, who shares with use some of his experience and observations about masks for the blind. This is part of a series of guest blog posts where we get a chance to hear voices and perspectives about making masks more accessible. With government agencies around the country and […]
WHO Guidance on Face Masks Changes
Surprising New Guidance from the WHO The WHO guidance on face masks for COVID-19 has changed to include the recommendation that the general public use fabric masks in public settings where physical distancing can’t be achieved and provides specific guidance on mask layers and materials. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal fabric […]
Fabric Face Masks: Cleaning and Disinfection
Reusable fabric masks should be cleaned and/or disinfected before each use to reduce risks associated with COVID-19 AND other potentially infectious microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses, and fungi). Although the general principles of mask cleaning and disinfection are the same for most fabric masks, details will vary depending on specific mask designs, features, and materials. These […]
A Breathable Combination: An N95 plus a NWPP Mask Cover
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are global shortages of N95 respirators resulting in large scale adoption of procedures and policies for the extended use and re-use of N95 respirators. In this post we do a deeper dive into the quantitative breathability data for the MakerMask: Cover, a breathable N95 mask cover. The […]
Label Me A Face Mask: FDA Labeling Requirements
Almost everything comes with a label, from food to clothing to medicine to medical devices, and according to the FDA, face masks and cloth face coverings should come with labels too. More specifically, the Emergency Use Authorization for Face Masks released by the FDA April 24, 2020, includes labeling requirements for masks that are being […]
The Big Four: Criteria for Fabric Mask Materials for COVID
Ésta immersión profunda mira al criterio “Cuatro Grande” evaluado en evaluaciones preliminarias de materiales de máscaras comunitarias: cáracteristicas de los materiales, respirabilidad, repelencia al agua, y opcións para disinfección. Más especificamente, enfocamos en polipropileno no tejido (PPNT), que está usado comunmente para máscaras comerciales. A pesar de que PPNT ideal de grado médico no está disponible para uso comunitario, PPNT está disponible comunmente en diferentes pesos y grados para otros usos del hogar y/o otros propósitos comerciales, como bolsas reusables de compras. Aquí tomamos una mirada más profunda a los 4 criterio peliminares considerado cuando evaluando fuentes potenciales de PPNT.
Face Masks for COVID-19: Background Information
El equipo del proyecto MakerMask ha revisto literature extensiva sobre la ciencia y fabricación de respiradores aprobados por NIOSH. Selecionamos un diseño de múlitples capas que balance capacidades de filtración aumentado con permeabilidad para respirar. Las capas exteriores de polipropileno no tejido (PPNT) spunbond usan el mismo tipo de material usado en máscaras comerciales de grado médico, proveendo resistencia al agua para bloquear transmisión de gotitas y filtración mecánica por la estructura de las fibras.
