Wearing face masks and respirators as protection from COVID-19 and other harmful aerosol particles in the air is something most people have a hard time getting used to. For healthcare workers and individuals with sensitive skin, adverse dermatological effects are very common from the prolonged wearing of face masks or respirators. Unfortunately, we all have to wear them both to shield ourselves from the coronavirus and to comply with federal mandates.
A lot has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged worldwide particularly on how health experts are encouraging the public to protect themselves. Last year, filtering respirators such as the N95 and KN95 varieties were in short supply prompting health authorities to reserve them for medical use only. However, health authorities are now recommending the wearing of N95 and KN95 respirators for the general public instead of opting for low-grade face masks this year.
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.
From DIY face masks made of cloth to standard N95 respirators, face coverings have been an essential part of life to everyone around the world since the pandemic began. And while they protect us against COVID-19, the improper disposal of single-use surgical masks and respirators is causing waste problems on both land and sea which sends an ominous environmental warning that could last for decades.
With over 31 million COVID-19 cases all over the U.S., it’s not surprising how some prominent figures are coming out to shed light on their experiences in battling the deadly virus and eventually overcoming it.
Since face masks and respirators are here to stay in our continuing fight against COVID-19, many brands are integrating fashion with function in their products, leaving many to wonder if these essentials can be turned into fashion statements.
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.