Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
Three Step Mask
Strategy Webinar
Friday Feb 5 at
10:AM CST
CBS News Also
Now Reporting
Need for More
Efficient Masks
Washington Post
Says the Mask
Message is
Confused
MERV 13 is the
New Minimum
Normal
Clean Air
Curtain with
HEPA Filter for
Focused Air
Cleanliness
Virus Contacts:
Agencies and
Organizations
_______________________________________________________________________________
Three Step Mask
Strategy Webinar
Friday Feb 5 at
10:AM CST
On Friday,
February 5 we
will discuss the
three step plan
authored by
Sri will provide
a brief overview
of the plan but
we also ask
attendees to
view details in
the January 27
Alert.
We will
discuss each of
the three steps
and
contents
below. We
encourage you to
participate and
also to submit
evidence,
opinions etc.
ahead of time.
As Sri and the
other authors
point out the
three step plan
needs to be
quickly
implemented and
“it is up to
CEOs, mayors,
and governors to
implement these
three steps to
ensure
consistent use
of the best
possible masks
for vulnerable
groups”.
Here is a
proposed agenda
of subjects to
be addressed.
The three steps
are (l)
launching an
awareness blitz,
(2) advise on
which masks
should be worn
and (3)
prioritize masks
for the
vulnerable.
1.
Launch an
awareness blitz
a.
roles
i.
mainstream media
including local
news outlets
ii.
role of
association and
occupational
media including
business
and
medical
iii.
suppliers from
the large
validators such
as SGS and
Eurofin to media
suppliers to
mask
manufacturers
iv.
CATER Mask
Decisions
b.
message
i.
push - the need
to mandate use
of efficient
masks
ii.
pull - the
advantage of
using pull or
incentives
1.
the safe bubble
with the promise
of full
occupancy within
the
bubble
iii.
criteria
1.
general and
absolute
2.
relative risk
reduction as
proposed by
Mcilvaine
iv.
product
availability
1.
media
2.
masks
3.
timing
4.
geographies
2.
Communicate
which type of
masks people
should wear
a.
N95
b.
CATER
c.
surgical mask
with brace
d.
eN95
e.
other
3.
Prioritize masks
for the
vulnerable
a.
who
b.
location –
should this
extend to other
countries?
c.
how
i.
vouchers
ii.
direct
distribution
to register for
the webinar:
https://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_rsform&view=rsform&formId=92
CBS News Also
Now Reporting
Need for More
Efficient Masks
Sri is doing his
part on step #2
. He is quoted
this week in a
Boston Globe
article and in
the following
article in CBS
news.
There has been a
big swing in the
views of medical
researchers and
it is reflected
in the general
media. In our
Alert a few days
ago CNN
published an
article
indicating that
the pandemic
would be over if
everyone wore an
N 95 mask for
four weeks.
Here us
the coverage
this week from
CBS.
The Biden
administration
has issued a mask
mandate requiring
individuals to
wear masks on
federal
property, and
he's encouraging
all Americans to
wear them in
public for
100 days.
Face coverings
are also
required on
planes, trains,
buses and at
airports,
renewing
questions about
which kinds of
masks provide
the best
protection
against COVID-19,
as well as where
to find them.
Mask-wearing is
even more
effective when
the face
coverings fit
properly and
efficiently
filter aerosol
particles,
according to
medical
experts.
"In addition to
filtration, fit
is the most
important
factor," said
Devabhaktuni
Srikrishna,
founder of
global-health
platform Patient
Knowhow,
which curates
educational
health content
for the general
public.
"Even if you're
wearing a
high-quality
mask, if it
doesn't contact
your face, it's
going to leak
all around. The
best masks have
a very solid,
tight seal so
that air doesn't
leak.
Effectively, a
low fit equals
low filtration,"
Srikrishna
said.
Megan Ranney, an
emergency
physician at the
Rhode Island
Hospital, ranked
generally
available mask
alternatives
from most
effective to
least effective,
noting that
typically, any
kind of face
covering is
better than none
at all.
N95s provide the
most filtration,
according to
Ranney, followed
by so-called
KN95 masks.
Regular surgical
masks are the
next best
option, followed
by double-layer
cloth masks with
a filter worn
in-between the
two layers.
Double-layer and
single-layer
cloth masks
without filters
tend to be the
least efficient,
she said.
"Anytime you
take a step up,
you're going to
get a little
more protection.
Within cloth or
homemade masks,
things that make
them better
include having
two layers of
cloth with a
filter in
between the two
layers, like a
vacuum bag
filter, and
having the cloth
be tightly
woven," Ranney
said.
Dr. Tom Frieden,
who was the
director of the
Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
from 2009 to
2017, echoed
Ranney's advice
in a tweet Sunday.
"N95 masks are
the most
protective
masks, followed
by three-ply
surgical masks,
then fabric
masks. A fabric
mask is a lot
better than no
mask, but we may
need to step up
our mask game if
contagious Covid
variants start
to spread
widely," he
said.
An N95 approval
rating by the
National
Institute for
Occupational
Safety and
Health means
that a mask has
been rigorously
tested and
verified by the
federal
government and
filters at least
95% of airborne
particles.
NIOSH maintains
a list of approved
respirators by
brand. Because
N95-approved
masks remain in
short supply,
however, experts
still recommend
that they only
be used by
health care
providers.
"I generally ask
the public to
not purchase
N95s because the
authentic ones
are still in
short supply for
health care
workers," Ranney
said.
Proper fit,
meanwhile, which
is also key, is
difficult for
the layperson to
achieve.
"Within health
care, before we
are allowed to
go take care of
patients in an
N95 or
equivalent mask,
we have to go
through fit
testing where
they have us
move our head
around and see
if a bitter
spray gets
through the
mask. An average
member of the
public can't do
a fit test,
that's why we've
been hesitant to
recommend that
the public wear
N95s," Ranney
added.
Brian Wolin,
whose work as a
chiropractor has
slowed since the
onset of the
pandemic, has
been selling
NIOSH-approved
N95 masks
through his
company,
Protective
Health Gear,
based in
Paterson, New
Jersey.
Initially, his
goal was to help
meet hospitals'
masks needs.
He's now urging
the general
public to wear
the respirators,
too.
We feel it's
very important
to sell to the
general public
now. I think if
everyone on the
planet wore one
of these things
for 30 days, we
would take care
of this thing,"
Wolin said.
He acknowledged
the importance
of fit testing
in health care
settings but
insists that
regular
individuals can
easily mold
Protective
Health Gear's
masks to form a
tight seal on
their faces.
A box of 50
respirators costs
$199 at
protectivehealthgear.com.
While
NIOSH-approved
N95 masks are
among the most
rigorously
tested for a
variety of
factors
including
filtration,
breathability
and durability,
there are other
effective
alternatives
suitable for
general use when
N95s aren't
available.
Srikrishna
recommends
reusable
elastomeric
masks, which are
more durable and
cost-effective
than disposable
N95s.
Elastomeric
masks provide a
high level of
respiratory
protection and
can be paired
with disposable
filters. The
masks themselves
are made of a
flexible
material similar
to rubber and
can be adjusted
to fit snuggly
across the
wearer's face.
A 2020 study published
in the Journal
of the American
College of
Surgeons found
that of those
health care
workers who
swapped
disposable N95
masks for the
elastomeric
variety — paired
with a P100
filter — none
returned to
wearing an N95
mask.
"Our clinicians
were very
comfortable with
the fit, knowing
it was an
equivalent if
not superior
amount of
protection, and
that these masks
were intended to
be reused," Dr.
Sricharan
Chalikonda, the
study's lead
author, said in
a statement.
The elastomeric
mask shell is
sold separately
from the filter.
Srikrishna
recommends
pairing the
masks with a P95
filter, as
opposed to a
P100 filter, for
easier
breathability.
Another plus to
elastomeric
masks: They are
relatively easy
to find. A 3M
version is
available for
$15 on Amazon,
as are
P95 particulate
filters — sold
separately.
The Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
also approves the
use of
elastomeric
masks, calling
them "equivalent
protection" to
N95 masks.
KN95 masks look
similar to N95
masks but meet
completely
different
standards.
Whereas N95
masks are
NIOSH-certified,
KN95 masks meet
the Chinese
government's
standards for
certification.
Given that the
quality of KN95
masks is wildly
inconsistent,
experts in the
U.S. are leery
of them,
particularly
those sold on
platforms like
eBay and Amazon.
A September report from
ECRI, a
nonprofit health
care safety
organization,
found that up to
70% of KN95
masks did not
meet U.S.
standards of
effectiveness.
In other words,
they did not
filter 95% of
aerosol
particulates, as
their name
suggests.
Of course,
average
consumers are
unlikely to have
the time and
tools to inspect
the masks
themselves.
"In health care
we generally
avoid the KN95s
at this point,"
ER physician
Ranney said.
Ranney is
co-founder of GetUsPPE.org,
a site that
provides donated
PPE to frontline
workers and
under-resourced
communities.
Ranney said her
organization
received batches
of donated
KN95s, a number
of which failed
the group's
inspection
process. "Cloth
masks that fit
really well and
have a filter in
between layers
are going to be
more
dependable," she
said.
The Food and
Drug
Administration
does however
provide a list of
KN95 masks it
authorizes for
emergency use by
health care
professionals.
Among them are
KN95 masks from
Chengde
Technology,
which cost $15
for a pack of
10.
Powecom KN95
masks are also
FDA-approved for
emergency use.
Office Depot
sells
a 10-pack for
$10.
Where to find an
N95 or
high-filtration
mask for Biden's
100-day
challenge - CBS
News
Washington Post
Says the Mask
Message is
Confused
“The existence
of
more-transmissible
viruses
emphasizes the
importance of us
upping our game
and doing not
more of the same
but better of
the same,” said
Tom Frieden,
former director
of the Centers
for Disease
Control and
Prevention.
Frieden has
called for
people to
wear higher-quality
masks. “Yes,
that is
confusing to
people, but the
key is to share
what we know
when we know it
and be frank
about what we
don’t know.”
Anthony S.
Fauci, the
nation’s top
infectious-disease
expert, touted
double-masking
during a Monday
appearance on
the “Today”
show, saying two
layers “just
makes common
sense that it
likely would be
more effective.”
But on a
Wednesday town
hall appearance
on CNN, Fauci
appeared to
reverse course
and instead
stressed
following CDC
guidance, which
does not call
for wearing two
masks or N95s.
New CDC Director
Director
Rochelle
Walensky,
appearing
alongside Fauci,
also warned that
N95 masks are
uncomfortable to
wear and may
dissuade
consistent use
if expanded to
the general
public.
The CDC
encourages
Americans to
choose
well-fitting
masks with “two
or more layers
of washable,
breathable
fabric” and to
avoid surgical
masks and other
face coverings
meant for
health-care
workers.
President Biden
has embraced
masks as a core
strategy for
ending the
pandemic, mandating
face coverings on
planes, in
airports and in
all federal
buildings. But
he has not
called for a
medical-grade-mask
mandate or mass
production of
high-quality
masks.
Some public
health experts
said the federal
government
should have
prioritized
certifying or
manufacturing
better masks
earlier so
Americans do not
have to fend for
themselves to
avoid
counterfeits or
upgrade their
own.
Abraar Karan, a
physician at
Brigham and
Women’s Hospital
and Harvard
Medical School
has, since last
spring, called
on government
and industrial
leaders to mass-produce
comfortable,
effective masks.
He said the
country could
have avoided its
current
situation, with
Americans
learning how to
better protect
themselves
largely alone.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/27/double-mask-variants-guidance/
MERV 13 is the
New Minimum
Normal
Chris Plotz,
director of
education &
technical
affairs at
INDA, provided
insights on air
filters in the
most recent
IFN issue
“There are some
complications
relating to the
installation of
MERV 13 filters
in systems with
1” and 2” filter
racks, as MERV
13 filters are
typically deeper
to minimize
pressure drop. A
basic switch to
a MERV 13 from a
lower-rated
filter in a 1”
or 2” system
presents
unintended
consequences,
which result in
a cascade of
increases within
the HVAC system.
These manifest
in higher
resistance,
increased
pressure, as
well as
increases in
energy use in
the system. This
can cause
airflow
reductions,
freezing of the
air conditioner
coil and,
potentially,
damage to the
compressor. A
workaround could
be to retrofit a
larger rack to
accommodate a
deeper filter
with
significantly
more filtration
media. This is
not a simple or
cheap task. Cost
is not the only
factor though,
as a retrofit
would also
require steps to
ensure the
enlarged filter
rack is as
airtight as
possible to
prevent air
bypass or
depressurization
effects from
occurring.
HVAC filtration
can be augmented
by a number of
additional
control elements
to clean
pollutants and
contaminants out
of the air. When
used properly,
ultraviolet
light, room air
cleaners and
humidity control
can be part of a
plan to reduce
the potential
for airborne
transmission of
COVID-19
indoors.
Ultraviolet
light purifiers
utilize
short-wave UV-C
light to
inactivate
airborne
pathogens and
microorganisms.
As air is forced
through the
device, it
passes over UV
lamps, which
disinfects via
irradiation.
“I see indoor
filtration at
MERV 13 levels
as the new
minimum normal
for filtration
systems going
forward. Just
prior to the
pandemic,
California
enacted the
“Title 24”
Energy Code,
which requires
this level of
filtration for
all construction
and renovation.
This is being
adopted by many
states and is
quickly becoming
de facto. This
is also being
recommended by
the American
Society of
Heating,
Refrigeration
and
Air-Conditioning
Engineers
(ASHRAE), and
the U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency and the
CDC.
The COVID-19
pandemic has
significantly
educated the
public about
indoor air
quality, and
with many
upgrades and new
laws being
enacted or
proposed, it
looks like we
will be getting
a breath of
clean, fresh air
long into the
future.”
The Clean Air
Curtain from Air
Cleaners Inc
combines HEPA
filtration--as
is used in
hospital
surgeries--with
UVGI to create a
“trap and kill”
effect. Clean
air comes from
the device in a
high-speed
vertical
“curtain” of
air. The Clean
Air Curtain
provides
separation
between air
spaces in a
room, and
rapidly--and
uniformly--reduces
the
concentration of
airborne
pathogens in the
room. Managing
the cleanliness
of the air is
more important
than the
cleaning of
surfaces,
especially in
schools.
The Clean Air
Curtain can be
connected in
series to
create a
protective wall
that blocks
aerosols and
droplets and cleans
the air up to
ten times per
hour.
.
Features include
§
High-velocity
air curtain
plume: The Air
Curtain provides
two primary
benefits by both
creating an air
barrier that
protects one
person from
another, and the
resulting
high-speed plume
of air forces
rapid dilution
of pathogens in
the room.
§
‘Trap and Kill’
design: Air is
returned to the
device and
forced at high
pressure through
a true HEPA
filter. UVGI is
deployed in the
supply plenum
and directed
onto the filter
constituting a
“trap and kill”
design.
Pathogens are
trapped against
the HEPA filter
and killed by
the UVGI light.
§
Small portable
“desktop”
package: The
Clean Air
Curtain is a
small desktop
unit that
measures only 24
x 12 x 8 inches
and can
therefore fit
onto a
countertop or
desktop. The
unit is portable
and weighs
approximately 30
pounds. It can
therefore be
added to an
environment for
a period of
time, and then
moved as
appropriate to a
new location.Virus
Contacts:
Agencies and
Organizations
A Resource Guide
for the
Practitioner and
Traveler by Ann
Marie Flynn,
PhD, R. Ryan
Depont, PhD,
Lila Theodore,
Emma Parente,
Louis Theodore,
DEngSc.
Publisher:
Amazon ($7.99)
As the title
implies,
Virus Contacts:
Agencies and
Organizations -
A Resource Guide
for the
Practitioner and
Traveler can
be used to
obtain detailed
and pertinent
contact
information on
viruses.
Concise and easy
to use, this
Guide brings
together a
wealth of
hard-to-gather
information in
one compact book
and offers
general
information and
contacts of
state public
health agencies,
international
health agencies,
and research
centers.
The Guide has
been written for
technical
individuals who
not only work in
the health area
or in
health-related
fields but also
travelers here
and abroad.
It is a quick
reference tool
that may be used
whenever and
wherever
information
about viruses is
likely to be
sought. It is a
must for those
working in the
health field and
those involved
peripherally
with viruses.
Following a
brief
introduction,
Part I provide
detailed
information on
state public
health agencies.
In addition,
each
state/organization
profile includes
the authors’
evaluation of
both the quality
of their webpage
and an analysis
of their virus
activities. The
last two parts,
Parts II and III
provide
information on
international
and
pharmaceutical
research
agencies,
respectively.
In summary, this
book provides a
handy reference
to the
burgeoning
wealth and maze
of virus and
virus-related
information from
state,
international,
and research
center health
agencies that
have found a
depository on
the Internet and
World Wide Web.
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