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.