The Pandemic is Like a Football Game Where the Head Covering is a Life and Death Decision

CATER 95 Mask Suppliers Have a Responsibility to Provide Fit Testing Advice

Hong Kong Masks Performance Evaluated

Ohio is Installing Some Devices Which May Not Meet Claims for COVID Protection

Cross Fit is Ambivalent on Mask Protection

Florida Gyms Look to Expanding Membership in the New Year

New Jersey Reports COVID Cases at Schools

_________________________________________________________________________

 

The Pandemic is Like a Football Game Where the Head Covering is a Life and Death Decision

Most of  the regulations  now require wearing of masks. But this is like saying every football player must wear a head covering. The difference is that the risk of death is much greater by wearing a less protective mask than it is a less protective helmet.  It is therefore of highest importance to wear an efficient tight fitting mask.

ASTM is taking a big first step by preparing to create standards based on 20% and 50% efficiency. These proposed standards communicate the important parameters and the methods by which the level of protection is achieved. This work and the ASTM 50 rating can be used for what might be called the ASTM 50 plus rating.  One of the plus ratings would be CATER 95.  It would use all the tools and protocols set up by ASTM but be able to demonstrate not only the high efficiency but also the tight fit with various face sizes.

CDC could provide information on reliable fit testing procedures for  public masks. They can include use of the same qualitative and quantitative fit testing technologies required for industrial and medical use.  But they would also provide advice on frequency of testing and generic testing by mask size.

CATER mask suppliers with five different mask sizes are in a better position to provide low leakage masks than are suppliers with just two sizes. At one level suppliers should provide  leakage results through detailed testing of each different size mask when applied to appropriate  face sizes. This should include talking, walking, bending etc.  (Practical Performance Tests on sample test subjects).

Most masks are worn in such a manner that air leakage is as much as 40% of the total exhaled. The biggest challenge will be to create a system which keeps leakage below 10%. If both emitter and recipient have leakage limited to 10 % the net virus transmission is only 1%.  Rating of net efficiency (capture efficiency less leakage) will be useful. There are CATER 95 masks with 95% efficiency and an average of 4% leakage for a net efficiency of 91%.

The concept of CATER 95 bubbles is being proposed. If everyone entering this bubble has a CATER 95 or better mask then the school, fitness center, or office building in the bubble could operate normally. 

It is proposed that fit testing for the public be accomplished by one of the following

·         Existing industrial fit testing services with mobile vans or  on site measurement capabilities

·         New groups of fit testers such as physical therapists at fitness centers

·         Retail stores who can sell masks and provide fitness testing and advice

·         Schools and large institutions

·         Local fit testing centers (could be the fitness center or retail store)

It is further proposed that there be limitation of entry to the bubble based on some sort of proof (if only visual) that the individual is wearing a properly fitted CATER 95 mask.

In the Alert yesterday we provided details on the fitness centers and how they could reopen and even generate extra revenue from fit testing. We are forecasting that CATER Mask sales will be greater than gym shoes, hoodies, or for that matter any other clothing item. 

So the department store with a shoe section to help customers obtain the right shoes could generate more revenues by helping people choose the right mask.

 

CATER 95 Mask Suppliers Have a Responsibility to Provide Fit Testing Advice

Consumer mask manufacturers should  provide clear instructions on how to perform a Self-Fit Test:  Here are the instructions provided by Vogmask.

Place your fingers on the cheekbones and thumbs on sides of chin to do inhale and exhale fitting check. 

"General use respirators are not fit tested in a Workplace Safety Program, so it is recommended that you self-check how the mask fits by this method. In some regulatory regions, Vogmask is fit tested on human test subjects to confirm filtering efficiency under a variety of motions such as walking, and talking, head side to side, and head up and down.

1. Inhale slowly. Check to see if the facepiece suctions slightly towards your face. No air should leak in between your face and mask.
2. Exhale slowly. The facepiece should be bulging slightly outwards as exhale exits back through facepiece.
3. Check again for leaks between your face and the facepiece of the respirator.
4. If you detect any leaks, readjust the ear loops or head straps and check again for fit.
5. If you cannot get a good seal around nose and mouth, the mask is not correct size and we request you contact us.

 

Hong Kong Masks Performance Evaluated

An evaluation of masks available in Hong Kong has valuable information but misses the mark because it reports criteria of value to a surgeon who wants to avoid blood spurts but does not address the biggest factor which is mask air leakage.

In tests on 30 models of surgical masks for sale in the city, the consumer watchdog finds all but one meets basic infection prevention standards

But 70 percent fall short in other measures relating to bacteria levels, bodily fluid resistance and comfort.

The vast majority of surgical masks on sale in Hong Kong meet minimum standards for protecting against infections, but 70 per cent of models have flaws in other areas such as hygiene and durability, according to a Consumer Council study.

The watchdog’s findings, released on Tuesday as the city battled its fourth wave of Covid-19, revealed high levels of bacteria on some disposable masks, and one type did not reach basic requirements for resisting bodily fluids.

 

The Consumer Council oversaw tests on 30 different types of surgical, single-use masks.

Photo: Handout

Pharmacy chain Watsons, owned by city tycoon Li Ka-shing, was the most vocal of those disputing the findings, insisting its masks attained the highest American standards of protection. The firm said it used the same laboratory as the one commissioned by the council to perform the tests but found discrepancies between both sets of results.

All but one of the 30 models of single-use masks that the council tested reached 95 per cent or above for average bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) and particle filtration efficiency (PFE).

By doing so they were judged satisfactory in terms of guarding against infection, reaching the basic level one requirement under the American ASTM F2100 standard.

To obtain ASTM level two or three certification, which is the top standard available, BFE and PFE readings must hit at least 98 per cent.

The price of each mask ranged from HK$2 to HK$9, with 18 marked as made in Hong Kong, eight in mainland China, and others from Taiwan and Vietnam.

The one model found in the study not to reach level one for countering infections was produced by Perfetta, a medical supplies manufacturer from Vietnam. Its average PFE was only 86.64 per cent, failing to meet ASTM level two as claimed as well as falling far short of the most basic standard for protective efficacy.

Lui Wing-cheong, vice-chairman of the council’s research and testing committee, said in general the masks sold in the city should be able to offer basic protection to consumers for daily use. However, he warned that 70 per cent of the models performed poorly in other tests.

For example, three models were detected with relatively high levels of bioburden, referring to the number of bacteria living on a given surface. The ear straps of about a third of the models broke in stress tests, and one failed to meet the level one resistance requirement against penetration by bodily fluid.

“The council stresses that as face masks are crucial daily necessities against the pandemic, manufacturers should strictly monitor the quality and ensure all important information on the labelling is comprehensive and accurate, so as to ensure the best protection to consumers,” he said.

The tests showed the PFE readings on all five samples from each of four models were lower than the producers claimed. Two of those – from Tempo as well as Perfetta – also had a lower BFE than they had stated.

However, Lui noted instances of blood or bodily fluid splashing on masks were relatively rare in daily life.

For hygiene standards, the study showed 90 per cent, or 27 models, met the European Union standard for levels of coliform forming, which is set at less than 30 units per gram.

The three models failing in this standard were Artec Med, Pure Living and Powecom, which recorded levels under the hygienic indicator ranging from 41.7 to above 159.4.

According to the council, the 159.4 reading from Powecom, from China, also exceeded the 100 limit of its home country’s “bacterial detection implement standard”.

 

Ohio is Installing Some Devices Which May Not Meet Claims for COVID Protection

Some businesses and workplaces are turning to devices that claim to kill germs in the air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies acknowledge the coronavirus can linger in the air in crowded, indoor spaces with poor ventilation.

But the CDC is now warning that some popular products like dry hydrogen peroxide devices and ionizers, which are popping up in restaurants, universities and government buildings around Lima and many cities in the U.S., are still unproven in their ability to reduce airborne coronavirus transmission, while other devices like HEPA filters, window fans or even an open window can filter or push contaminated air outside.

The CDC, which updated its ventilation guidance on Dec. 15, stopped short of saying the devices don’t work as marketed. But the agency did say that there is a lack of peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support manufacturer claims and that consumers should be cautious when purchasing devices that it classifies as emerging technologies.

For Dr. Michael Bisesi, an environmental health scientist and professor at The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health, the primary question is whether the devices are safe and capable of deactivating a large enough percentage of airborne viruses lingering in the air to be effective, especially when those devices are used in larger rooms than the manufacturer may have intended.

The Titan 4000 Hydroxyl Generator, for example, purports to decompose air pollutants into carbon dioxide and water by forming a reaction with water and oxygen in the air to produce hydrogen peroxide molecules, which are dispersed by the machine’s fan into the room to purify the air. The company says its product is safe and is classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Type 2 medical device, safe for use in baby and neonatal wards.

Allen County purchased 36 of the hydroxyl generator units in November, and other local entities have followed suit.

In one statement, they’re saying they don’t pose a hazard to occupants because they’re so reactive, they react in seconds,” Bisesi said. “So, if they’re so reactive and they react in seconds, if you have a portable unit at one side of the room and it’s dispersing air into the room — are they still in an active form by the time they get to the other side of the room?”

Bisesi also noted the similarities between the hydroxyl generator and ozone generators, a once-popular device that produces ozone gas to remove air pollutants. It has since been found to damage lungs when inhaled.

Both devices disperse another contaminant into the room, Bisesi said, which in turn introduces the potential for respiratory and eye irritation, whereas a HEPA filter, one of the CDC-recommended ventilation strategies, filters contaminants out of the air to reduce coronavirus and other viral transmission indoors.

Titan’s manufacturer countered that its generators do not introduce the potential for contaminants in the air, and there is zero potential for respiratory or eye irritation because the hydroxyl generators were designed to be a safe alternative to ozone generators and have been approved by the California Air Resources Board. The company acknowledges it hasn’t been tested on COVID-19 yet, but testing is scheduled for early 2021.

“So, the question is: is it better to release something into the air to help the nature deactivate the virus,” Bisesi asked. “Or, if you could have an equally effective way using HEPA filters to enhance the filtration of the air or remove the contaminant in their air — I’m in favor of removing the contaminant from the air when there’s occupancy

 

Cross Fit is Ambivalent on Mask Protection

On the evening of Nov. 20, two sheriff’s deputies and a health inspector entered a facility in Buffalo, New York. The area was under an executive order barring nonessential gatherings of more than 10 people due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there were roughly 100 people inside the venue that night.

At first, the confrontation was tense but restrained. One man yelled that the officials were on private property and had to leave, but another man at least tried to seem persuasive. “We’re asking to appeal to your compassionate side,” he said to the officials.

Soon, though, the crowd grew angrier and started shouting: Where is the deputies’ warrant? Why is the health inspector hiding her name tag? If I’m supposed to be wearing a mask, then why don’t you arrest me? Growing rowdier still, they began chanting, “Get out!” as they pushed closer to the officials, who were inching back toward the door. The furious crowd followed them out into the parking lot and hoarsely screamed, “We will not comply!”

The scene of this tense standoff? A CrossFit gym.

A video of the incident went viral, drawing nearly a million views. On Nov. 24, the gym’s owner, Robby Dinero, appeared on Fox News, ringed in the background by roughly 35 unmasked people, including a few small children. He held up the $15,000 fine levied by the Erie County Department of Health in front of the camera. “Our freedom cannot end where people’s fear starts,” he said before ripping the document in half.

In terms of reach and influence in the fitness world, CrossFit is unparalleled. With roughly 6,700 affiliate gyms, the brand has more locations in the United States than Equinox, SoulCycle, and Orange Theory combined. With about the same number internationally, CrossFit is the largest fitness chain in the world.

But CrossFit is also unique for its hands-off corporate structure. To open an affiliate location, a gym owner needs only a location, proof of insurance, the $3,000 annual licensing fee, and a coach with a “level 1 certification,” which can be done over a weekend. Unlike under a franchise model, CrossFit gyms are largely free to make their own decisions about branding, equipment, facilities, coaches, training methodology, programming workouts, and hygiene practices.

As a result, CrossFit is divided on its response to the pandemic like no other fitness brand. The company has released no public health requirements for affiliates in part because of a lingering split in the CrossFit diaspora between those who believe in science and those who don’t.

To some prominent CrossFitters, the relative silence from such an influential company has put the community in danger.

 

Florida Gyms Look to Expanding Membership in the New Year

Gyms and fitness centers around Clay County are preparing for an uptick of memberships as many will pledge to get rid of their pandemic pounds in the new year.

Losing weight is one of the most-popular New Year’s resolutions, but gym memberships dropped significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic closed many doors. Like the rest of Florida, Clay County felt those effects. As the state moved from Phase 1 safety protocols to Phase 2 and now Phase 3, gyms are ready for what is usually one of the busiest times of the year.

“We expect an uptick in memberships,” First Coast YMCA vice president of operations Jon Dearolf said. “To ensure safety, we will continue our thorough cleaning procedures, temperature checks upon entry, mask requirements in high traffic areas, socially distanced markings in group exercise classes, and continue our registration system to help provide a safer room capacity.”

Dearolf said the YMCAs in Clay County has seen a slight increase in memberships over the past few months, especially in the Youth Sports programs. Signups for the current season exceeded the previous season, which showed Dearolf and the YMCA “that parents still want to keep their children active during this time.”

He said something unique about signing up for a YMCA membership as a New Year’s resolution or at any time really, is that the organization provides virtual exercise options and outdoor opportunities for classes in the cooler months to ease member anxiety associated with working out indoors.

“To help with our building capacity, we have increased our building hours and will be adding more group exercise classes to give more exercise options for our members,” Dearolf said.

Achieve Fitness Center on Fleming Island has been preparing its expected New Year’s uptick in membership with additional safety COVID-19-related protocols. General manager Michael Glickman said when you first walk in to Achieve, you’ll notice that all of the club’s doors have antimicrobial material on them that kills bacteria on contact. You also won’t be able to work out until completing a temperature check to determine you aren’t running a fever.
“We have also added an additional 10 sanitization stations so we have 15 of those now,” Glickman said. “We recently introduced electrostatic charge spraying as well and we do that every seven days as that’s how long the treatment lasts.”

There are ultraviolet rays integrated into the children’s play area of Achieve and in all of the building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and social distancing is practiced in the cardio equipment areas and classroom sessions.

“We have about 20,000 square feet of building and every other machine is shut off currently,” Glickman said. “Everything we’re doing is to make sure our members feel safe, which is why all of our staff wear masks and it’s why we offer masks and gloves to every member that comes in.”

Bailey’s Health and Fitness in Orange Park is practicing similar measures with multiple touchpoint cleanings throughout each day, UV lights installed in HVAC systems and more. It’s about the safety of the members and providing the means for them to remain not only safe, but healthy through fitness as well for each of these gyms.

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying active is even more important during this time,” Dearolf said. “We will continue to ensure a safe and encouraging environment to help people reach their goals and overcome stress.”

 

New Jersey Reports COVID Cases at Schools

Over the past week, seven new confirmed outbreaks of in-school transmission were reported statewide, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday, involving 31 additional cases around the state.

That brings the statewide total to 105 school COVID-19 outbreaks involving 459 students and school staff since schools reopened in late August, according to the governor. Those new outbreaks came out of five counties — Atlantic, Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean, and Salem.

During that same period, he said the state overall registered 250,563 total positive cases.

“This means less than two-tenths of 1% of cases are traced to activity within our schools,” Murphy said during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton. Since the start of the academic year, the majority of our schools have been open in some capacity for in-person instruction, the governor added, whether it be fully in-person or through a hybrid-learning model.

“This is a very stressful year,” he said. “God willing, we’ll get back to some sort of normalcy, I hope sooner rather than later.”

New Jersey defines a school outbreak as two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases involving students, teachers or school staff who contact tracers believe transmitted the virus to each other either in class or during the school day.

The outbreak numbers do not include cases where students or their teachers tested positive after catching the coronavirus during sports practices, from family members, at parties or during other non-school activities.

The totals include both public and private K-12 schools.

State health officials have withheld the names of the schools with outbreaks, citing the need to protect the privacy of students and school staff who tested positive.

Where were this week’s newly reported school outbreaks?

The largest of numbers appear to be in Bergen County, where three new school outbreaks involving 13 new cases were reported. Monmouth had two new outbreaks with an additional seven cases.

The 105 school outbreaks across the state reported to date include:

·         Atlantic County: 5 school outbreaks (total of 14 cases)

·         Bergen County: 21 school outbreaks (total of 99 cases)

·         Burlington County: 7 school outbreaks (total of 24 cases)

·         Camden County: 13 school outbreaks (total of 66 cases)

·         Cape May County: 8 school outbreaks (total of 23 cases)

·         Cumberland County: 3 school outbreaks (total of 7 cases)

·         Gloucester County: 6 school outbreaks (total of 37 cases)

·         Hudson County: 2 school outbreaks (total of 10 cases)

·         Hunterdon County: 1 school outbreak (3 cases)

·         Mercer County: 2 school outbreaks (total of 12 cases)

·         Middlesex County: 1 school outbreak (3 cases)

·         Monmouth County: 6 school outbreaks (total of 19 cases)

·         Ocean County: 5 school outbreaks (total of 34 cases)

·         Passaic County: 4 school outbreaks (total of 23 cases)

·         Salem County: 10 school outbreaks (total of 37 cases)

·         Somerset County: 3 school outbreaks (total of 9 cases)

·         Sussex County: 3 school outbreaks (total of 7 cases)

·         Union County: 1 school outbreak (23 cases)

·         Warren County: 4 school outbreaks (total of 9 cases)

Only Essex and Morris counties have had no confirmed school outbreaks, according to the statistics.

Both counties are among the largest in New Jersey and have numerous school districts offering in-person classes that have closed temporarily due to multiple COVID-19 cases. However, none of those cases have been classified as school outbreaks because contact tracers have not concluded students and school staff caught the virus at school.

Will the governor shut down all schools again?

Murphy has said the school outbreak numbers are relatively low considering the high number of New Jersey schools that have reopened. That data is part of the reason he has said he is not planning a statewide shutdown of schools similar to the executive order he issued last spring.

School districts are deciding for themselves whether to offer in-person classes, temporarily switch to all-remote learning or continue virtual learning plans. Nine of the state’s ten largest school districts are currently all-remote until at least January or February.