Now that new and more infectious COVID-19 variants are emerging all over the world, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to amplify the need for universal mask-wearing to further slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Despite encouraging both healthcare sectors and the general public to go for medical-grade masks like N95 or KN95 respirators which block 95% of nanoparticles in the air, such personal protective equipment (PPE) remains in short supply.
The Biden administration achieved a breakthrough in mid-April by vaccinating over 50% of its total adult population. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still adamant in telling us that no one is out of the woods yet.
Few people know that proper hand-washing to prevent diseases has been a global campaign since 2009. The SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign or World Hand Hygiene Day is an annual celebration every May 5th to encourage healthcare professionals around the world.
According to the country’s leading epidemiologists, we all might be wearing face masks until 2022. And as the Biden administration recently released a directive on the wearing of face masks in all federal buildings along with 27 states extending their respective mask mandates, the production of medical-grade N95 and KN95 respirators is also increasing.
Many questions are being raised about new COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs) which are said to be more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, and how we can protect ourselves from them.
Harvard University director for its Healthy Buildings program Joseph Allen has sounded off on mixed messages about wearing face-coverings as the world goes into its second year of dealing with the pandemic. And the simple verdict is that we should all still wear face masks to protect ourselves from COVID-19.
While the Biden administration has tapped the Defense Production Act to further push the increased production of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for healthcare professionals all over the U.S., there is still a growing concern about the shortage of medical-grade N95 and KN95 respirators in the market today.
After the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), another novel virus in COVID-19 is giving hemophiliacs everywhere great concern. With minimal available information and while studies are still ongoing on how the coronavirus can affect individuals with blood diseases, here’s what we know so far.
In British Columbia, Canada, an outbreak of the P.1 Brazilian COVID-19 variant is currently causing panic in the community with close to 300 cases being registered in late March. Perhaps the most alarming thing about this news is how far Brazil is from Canada and considering strict guidelines on international travel, this variant of concern (VOC) is proving to be one of the more contagious strains today.
With the increasing demand for medical-grade N95 and KN95 respirators that can provide healthcare workers a 95% level of protection against COVID-19, supplies are quickly running out and forcing some medical staff to wear surgical masks instead.