Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
RGF System
Neutralizes
COVID-19
Hach and
LuminUltra
Partner to
Deliver First
Rapid Test for
SARS-CoV-2 in
Wastewater
Efficient Masks
Can be 90%
Effective ASTM vs Community Masks
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RGF System
Neutralizes
COVID-19 RGF® Environmental
Group, Inc., has
released the
results of an
independent,
third-party test
that indicates
the
PHI-PKG14
PHI-CELL®
product with
Photohydroionization®
technology inactivates
greater than
99.9% of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus
in the air and
on inoculated
surfaces.
SARS-CoV-2,
commonly known
as coronavirus,
is the virus
that causes
COVID-19. Given
the CDC's
determination
that SARS-CoV-2
is an airborne
virus, meaning
it spreads from
person-to-person
via aerosols and
respiratory
particles, the
test results are
important for
building owners
and operators
seeking a proven
solution to
combat
SARS-CoV-2 in
the air and on
surfaces inside
the occupied or
air-conditioned
space. "SARS-CoV-2
virus particles
or aerosols are
produced when an
infected person
coughs, sneezes
or talks.
Large virus
particles fall
out of the air
and onto
surfaces,
resulting in
surface
contamination,
however small
virus particles
can stay
airborne for
hours," noted
Dr. James
Marsden,
Executive
Director of
Science &
Technology at
RGF®
Environmental
Group. "Similar
to RGF's REME
HALO®,
the PHI-PKG14
PHI-CELL®
neutralizes
greater than
99.9% of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus
in the air and
on contaminated
surfaces."
Testing of
the PHI-PKG14
PHI-CELL®
active air
purification
system indicated
that the
SARS-CoV-2 virus
is significantly
neutralized
within the
occupied space,
and
significantly
reduced risk of
person-to-person
infection by
respiratory
particles and
aerosols. The
PHI-PKG14
PHI-CELL®
eliminated the
need for virus
particles to
travel through
the HVAC system
filters or UV
air purification
system. The
magnetic-mount
Package PHI Unit
– Air
Purification
System leverages
PHI-CELL®
technology to
actively treat
the air inside
conditioned
spaces. This
product is
specifically
designed for
package HVAC
systems. Because
of its versatile
magnetic mount
installation,
the Package PHI
Unit can be used
in a wide
variety of
applications.
Adjustable
magnetic feet
attach without
fasteners to the
blower unit,
simplifying
installation.
The Package PHI
Unit is
effective where
ductwork is
difficult to
access or where
modification to
existing or HVAC
systems is not
an option. These
units can also
be used in
conjunction with
RGF's new PKG
Rack™ system
enabling
installation for
up to eight
package units in
one application.
Hach and
LuminUltra
Partner to
Deliver First
Rapid Test for
SARS-CoV-2 in
Wastewater
Hach and
LuminUltra ,
have partnered
to offer the
world's first
rapid, on-site
testing solution
for the
detection of
SARS-CoV-2 in
wastewater. The
partnership is a
direct response
to consumer and
community need
for same-day
test results and
accessible,
cost-efficient
solutions.
"Hach's mission
is to ensure
water quality
for people
around the
world. When the
pandemic hit,
Hach immediately
looked to see if
there was a way
that we could
help fight the
spread.
Wastewater-based
epidemiology
(WBE) was the
logical area for
us to
contribute,"
says James
Harbridge,
Business
Development
Manager for Hach.
"This
partnership with
LuminUltra
enabled us to
quickly bring a
product to
market with the
potential to
help slow virus
spread. We are
excited to see
how communities,
businesses and
schools use this
solution to make
a positive
impact on public
health."
The Hach®
complete
SARS-CoV-2
monitoring
offering
includes our
line of
composite
samplers plus a
SARS-CoV-2
onsite testing
method by
LuminUltra. The
onsite method is
based on a
simple and quick
extraction
coupled with an
easy-to-use
laboratory qPCR
(quantitative
polymerase chain
reaction)
analyzer, which
produces results
within a couple
of hours.
"We're proud of
our
long-standing
partnership with
Hach and our
history of
distributing
fast and simple
solutions to
microbiological
problems,"
says Pat Whalen,
CEO of
LuminUltra. "In
the face of this
global pandemic,
regular
wastewater
monitoring gives
us a view into
the bigger
picture of the
health of our
communities.
This
non-invasive
testing method
is a
game-changer for
effectively
managing the
pandemic and
this partnership
between our two
organizations
makes this
surveillance
tool more
accessible to
communities
everywhere."
Emerging public
health research
confirms the
ability to
detect
SARS-CoV-2
almost a week
before physical
symptoms of
COVID-19 through
non-invasive
wastewater
surveillance
system
monitoring. This
testing solution
from Hach and
LuminUltra is
working for
community
partners.
"Testing for
COVID in the
wastewater
directly onsite
has opened up
the
opportunities
for our Health
and Human
Service
Department to
make timely
decisions that
could
immediately
benefit our
community,"
says Dawn Cowell,
Wastewater
Laboratory
Supervisor for
the City and
County
of Broomfield,
Colorado. "This
test has also
opened our eyes
to the various
wastewater
testing
capabilities
that we didn't
even know
existed
pre-COVID."
Efficient Masks
Can be 90%
Effective
They say that
for maximal
protection
members of the
public can
either (1) wear
a cloth mask
tightly on top
of a surgical
mask where the
surgical mask
acts as a filter
and the cloth
mask provides an
additional layer
of filtration
while improving
the fit; or (2)
wear a three
layer mask with
outer layers
consisting of a
flexible,
tightly woven
fabric that can
conform well to
the face and a
middle layer
consisting of a
nonwoven
high-efficiency
filter material
(e.g., vacuum
bag material).
If the masks fit
well, these
combinations
should produce
an overall
efficiency of
>90% for
particles 1 mm
and larger,
which
corresponds to
the size of
respiratory
aerosols that we
think are most
important in
mediating
transmission
AAFA Asking
President to
Extend Face Mask
Tariff Exclusion
Many PPE
products were
granted
exclusions from
additional
duties under the
Section 301
investigations
on products from
China. At the
end of 2020,
USTR issued a
notice on the
“determination
to extend
certain product
exclusions and
to make further
modifications to
remove Section
301 duties from
additional
medical-care
products to
address
COVID-19.”
ASTM vs
Community Masks
A number of
masks meet the
European
community
mask standards
which are based
on two
levels-both of
which are 3
micron particles
as opposed to
ASTM
which is
based on 0.3
micron
particles.
In order
to be salable in
the U.S. in the
future they will
also have to be
tested to
determine their
ability to meet
either Level 1
or Level 2 of
ASTM.
Two levels of
community face
coverings are
considered
according to
their filtration
efficiency to
particles around
3 (± 0.5) µm: —
level 90%:
greater than or
equal to 90%, —
level 70%:
greater than or
equal to 70%. In
some countries,
national
regulations
could apply to
define the
different level
of filtration
efficiency when
tested with
particles
different than 3
(± 0.5) µm. The
filtration
efficiency
requirements
apply to both
new materials
and to materials
that have been
through the
number of
cleaning cycles
for which the
producer states
that the
community face
covering remains
compliant.
Testing shall be
carried out in
accordance with
6.4. The
national
regulations
apply to
indicate what
level of
filtration
efficiency is
suitable for the
given use of the
community face
covering
https://www.cencenelec.eu/research/CWA/Documents/CWA17553_2020.pdf
Here are masks
which meet the
standards.
Neon face mask is
dedicated to
athletes and for
those who want
to keep physical
activity. As an
accessory, it
will not only be
a stylish
addition to
clothes but also
provides
protection
against dust and
dirt. For
safety, every
time you go
outside, take a
face mask with
you.
The mask meets
the CEN European
standards CWA
17553: 2020. Our
product belongs
to the first
category of
masks. This
means that its filtration
is greater than
or equal to 94%.
It is not
permeable to
microns greater
than or equal to
3 microns.
NHS – Healthcare
– United Kingdom
IKEA – Retail –
United Kingdom
Iceland – Food
Retail – United
Kingdom
Virgin Media –
Telecommunications
– United Kingdom
TTI Success
Insights –
Training –
Global
Face masks are
all manufactured
to meet the CEN
CWA 17553:2020,
AFNOR and
OEKO-TEX
standards
ensuring a high
degree of
particle
filtration and
protection. Dupont
Silvadur coating
provides
anti-microbial
protection for
up to 50 washes.
Sparkasse –
Banking –
Germany
Warwickshire
Fire & Rescue
(Warwickshire
County Council)
– Government –
United Kingdom
The University
of Law –
Education –
United Kingdom
Travis Perkins –
Logistics –
United Kingdom
SGN – Gas &
Energy – United
Kingdom
Israeli
Basketball
Association –
Sports – Israel
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