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.
Health experts have finally said what we’ve all dreaded– COVID-19 may never go away. Even if the world achieves herd immunity through the magic of vaccines, the virus will still linger on for years or decades though in a reduced capacity that’s not able to create the same present damage.
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.
Face masks are big business these days and fly-by-night manufacturers are certainly taking advantage of the pandemic. Since the start of the year and as the new administration is slowly gearing up to open up the economy, over 20 million counterfeit N95 respirators have been seized by federal authorities across the U.S with more arrests expected in the coming months.
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.
Last year, 29% of America's entire workforce were forced to perform their jobs at home to allay new cases of COVID-19. For industries who do not have the luxury to opt for ‘work from home’ arrangements, doubling efforts to protect themselves while at work is necessary especially this year as everyone is gearing up to open up more offices to cause an economic rebound.
The current pandemic continues to wreak havoc across all industries and is extremely affecting global supply chains and economies. For one, concerns in the transport and shipping industries are continuously mounting that governments are calling for urgent action in the delivery of essential goods particularly medical equipment and medicines.
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.
Despite 27 states along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, recently extending or issuing stricter mask mandates this month to curb the spike of COVID-19 cases, 23 states have relaxed the wearing of face masks, leaving their constituents to decide on whether to protect themselves from COVID-19 or otherwise.
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.