Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
Time to Mask Up Again
U.S. Retains
Lead for COVID
Cases and Deaths
CDC Warns
Against Travel
to France,
Thailand and
Several Other
Countries
More Than Seven
Million COVID
Cases in Africa
Thailand COVID
Cases Surging
Correct Size Air
Filter is
Important
______________________________________________________________________________
Time to Mask Up
Again
After a brief
respite over the
summer, it may
be time to mask
up again
says Elizabeth
Segran of
Fast Company.
The Delta
variant of the
coronavirus is
now the most
prevalent one
circulating in
the United
States, and
according to new
documents from
the Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention,
it is more
transmissible
than previously
imagined. The
data shows that
it is just as contagious
as chickenpox,
and more
contagious than
the viruses that
cause Ebola, the
common cold, and
the seasonal
flu. And while
vaccinated
people are less
likely to get
infected with
the variant than
their
unvaccinated
counterparts,
those who do get
infected carry
just as much
virus in their
nose and throat
as unvaccinated
people, meaning
they are just as
likely to spread
the disease to
others.
The CDC has long
recommended that
the unvaccinated
keep wearing
masks in indoor
settings. But
last week, it
began advising
vaccinated
people to wear
masks indoors in
counties where
the virus
transmission
rates are
“substantial” or
“high.” But the
CDC stops short
of offering
guidance on what
type of mask to
wear to protect
yourself. I
spoke with two
researchers who
study masks and
COVID-19
transmission to
better
understand what
products will
work best in
this new phase
of the pandemic.
For optimal
protection, N95
masks, and their
Chinese
equivalent, KN95
masks, are the
gold standard.
These are masks
that have been
certified to
filter out 95%
of airborne
particles as
small as 0.3
microns, which
means they would
prevent
coronavirus
particles from
entering. “These
masks are far
more efficient
as compared to a
cloth mask,
which will
filter out 20%
to 50% of
particles,” says
Christian
L’Orange, a
professor of
mechanical
engineering at
Colorado State
University,
whose lab
focuses on
testing the
effectiveness of
masks. “That’s
assuming they
are worn
correctly, with
a close fit
around the face
that prevents
particles from
getting in from
the side.”
However,
L’Orange points
out that many
people find it
uncomfortable to
wear an N95 or
KN95 for
extended periods
of time because
it can feel hard
to breathe as
particles get
trapped in the
material. He
says it’s
important to be
realistic and
find a mask that
you can actually
wear for as long
as you are in an
indoor
environment.
“Sure, an N95 is
great if you’re
able to do it,”
he says. “But if
your N95 mask is
sitting below
your nose, I
would much
rather [you
were] wearing a
cloth mask that
is
well-fitting.”
L’Orange also
says that if you
are in the
market for an
N95 or a KN95,
be wary of
counterfeits. He
recommends
buying the mask
from a reputable
retailer like
Home Depot or
Target rather
than from online
vendors on eBay
or Amazon.
Official N95
masks are
registered on
the website of
the National
Institute for
Occupational
Safety, so if
you’re concerned
about the
authenticity of
your mask, you
can reference this
database.
Huffman says it
is possible to
improve the fit
of your surgical
mask by making
knots on the ear
loops and
adapting the top
of the mask to
the bridge of
your nose, as
demonstrated
in video
tutorials that
have gone viral.
But if you see
big gaps on the
side of your
face when you
wear a surgical
mask, it’s
likely that the
mask is not
doing much to
protect you.
Cloth masks can
still be an
effective tool,
according to
both L’Orange
and Huffman.
Given that many
Americans
already have
stacks of cloth
masks available
from earlier in
the pandemic,
the experts
believe that a
large percentage
will turn to
them during this
new wave. If a
cloth mask is
comfortable
enough to be
worn for an
extended period
of time and it
fits properly,
it can offer
some protection
against the
virus.
Yet there is a
lot of variation
in terms of how
much protection
they provide.
The key, as with
any mask, is to
make sure the
mask fits
tightly on your
face. “See that
it creates a
seal around the
cheeks, on the
bridge of your
nose, and on the
chin,” Huffman
says. He points
out that there
are accessories
that will allow
you to create a
better fit,
including plastic
or rubber
strips that go
over the mask to
keep it
well-sealed to
the face. There
are also some
other simple
ways to enhance
the
effectiveness of
a cloth mask.
In terms of
fabric, L’Orange
says that the
more tightly
woven the
material, the
better it can
protect you.
Even if you
don’t have
information
about the
particular
thread count of
the cloth, you
can simply
examine the
material. Both
natural
materials like
cotton and
synthetic
materials like
polyester can
work well, as
long as there is
a tight weave.
“If you can see
clear daylight
through the
mask, it’s a
pretty good
indication the
particles are
going to get
through,”
L’Orange says,
noting that if
you do go for
the cloth mask
option, it’s
important to
practice good
hygiene. This
means washing it
frequently and
making sure not
to leave it on a
dirty surface
when you’re not
wearing it.
Ultimately, both
experts agree
that the central
tension with
masks is that
the more
efficient they
are at filtering
out particles,
the harder they
are to breathe
through. So each
person needs to
make a personal
decision about
how much
discomfort they
are willing to
tolerate for
their own
safety. “If a
person has a
mask that is so
uncomfortable to
them that they
are not actually
willing to wear
it or [are going
to] wear it
incorrectly,
that’s not the
right mask for
them,” L’Orange
says. “If
wearing a
slightly less
efficient mask
means that they
wear the mask
correctly,
that’s probably
the better mask
for them.”
It’s also worth
acknowledging
that many
Americans are
experiencing
mask fatigue,
Huffman says.
The pandemic has
dragged on for
nearly a year
and a half, and
many people
hoped that by
now we would not
have to deal
with the
inconvenience
and discomfort
of wearing
masks. Huffman
points out that
we’re not
exactly where we
were a year ago.
We no longer
need to wear
masks outside,
unless we’re in
crowded areas.
And if we’re
vaccinated, we
can now meet
with vaccinated
relatives and
friends at home
unmasked. “The
context on where
to wear a mask
is important,”
he notes. “When
you are in
public areas
indoors and you
don’t know the
people you are
in close
quarters with,
that’s when you
need to step up,
wear your mask,
and protect
yourself as much
as possible.”
U.S. Retains
Lead for COVID
Cases and Deaths
With the recent
Delta variant
surge the U.S.
is maintaining
the lead
with close to 37
million cases
and more than
630,000 deaths.
CDC Warns
Against Travel
to France,
Thailand and
Several Other
Countries
The U.S. Centers
for Disease
Control and
Prevention (CDC)
warned on Monday
against travel
to Israel,
France,
Thailand,
Iceland and
several other
countries
because of a
rising number of
COVID-19 cases
in those
nations.
The CDC has been
adding to its
highest "Level
4: Very High"
COVID-19 level
as cases spread
around the
globe. The
United States
added Israel,
the West Bank
and Gaza, along
with other
places,
including Aruba
and French
Polynesia.
The U.S. State
Department also
issued its
parallel Level
4: Do Not
Travel"
advisories for
Iceland and
France on
Monday.
In July, the CDC
had raised
concerns about
Israel, the West
Bank and Gaza,
lifting its
travel health
notice by two
levels to "Level
3: High."
The CDC also
hiked alert
levels to "Level
3: High" for
Austria,
Croatia, El
Salvador,
Azerbaijan,
Guam, Kenya and
Jamaica. The CDC
says
unvaccinated
travelers should
avoid
nonessential
travel to those
countries.
More Than Seven
Million COVID
Cases in Africa
The overall
number of
coronavirus
cases in Africa
has reached
7,054,430,
according to the
data released by
the Health
Organization’s
(WHO) Regional
Office for
Africa said on
Tuesday.
The number of
coronavirus-associated
deaths amounts
to 178,243. More
than 6.1 million
patients have
recovered.
South Africa
accounts for the
biggest number
of Africa’s
coronavirus
cases and
fatalities -
2,540,222 and
75,012,
respectively.
Tunisia is
second after
South Africa in
terms of
coronavirus-associated
deaths and cases
- 21,089 and
613,628,
respectively. As
many as 16,582
coronavirus-related
deaths and
284,789 cases
were reported
from Egypt.
In Sub-Saharan
Africa, Ethiopia
is second after
South Africa in
terms of
coronavirus
cases (284,531
cases and 4,430
fatalities).
Next are Kenya
(212,573 cases
and 4,179
deaths), and
Nigeria (178,506
cases and 2,192
deaths).
Thailand COVID
Cases Surging
Thailand
reported on
Tuesday a daily
record of 235
new coronavirus
deaths, bringing
the country's
total
accumulated
fatalities to
6,588.
The country also
reported 19,843
new infections,
taking total
cases to
795,951.
The Dixie Fire
Became the
Largest Fire in
California
History
That same
morning,
measured air
quality degraded
in mountain
towns across
most of
California’s
Sierra Nevada
mountain range.
Drifting
wildfire smoke
also created
unhealthy air
quality in Salt
Lake
City, Denver, Santa
Fe, and Cheyenne.
Denver and Salt
Lake City were
listed among the
most polluted
major cities in
the world on
August 9.
Air quality in
the United
States
and Canada has
been impacted by
numerous western
wildfires for
weeks, resulting
in air quality
in the Eastern
United States
that has
measured from
“moderate” (51
to 100) to
“unhealthy” (151
to 200) on the
U.S. air quality
index.
No amount of air
pollution, even
if it is
measured as
“good” or
“moderate,” is
safe for human
health.
On August 9,
most of the
Eastern U.S. and
Canada measured
its air quality
as “moderate”.
Western cities
ranged from
“unhealthy for
sensitive
groups”
(101-150) to
“very unhealthy”
(201-300) on the
slopes of the
Sierra Nevada
mountains.
Extreme heat and
dry conditions
are intensifying
the wildfire
season in Canada
and the western
United States as
a result of
human-caused
climate change.
While major
fires like the
Bootleg Fire
in Oregon and
the Tamarack
Fire in
California had
contributed
to poor air
quality in
eastern North
America late in
July through
early August,
those fires were
mostly contained
by August 9.
The Dixie Fire
posed a serious
safety threat
across four
counties and a
further health
hazard as smoke
was carried to
neighboring
counties and
states.
Meanwhile, the
Dixie Fire has
fed on dry
conditions to
pose a serious
safety threat
across four
counties and a
further health
hazard as smoke
was carried far
from its
source to
neighboring
counties and
states.
The Dixie Fire,
which ignited on
July 13, merged
with the Fly
Fire on July 22.
The fire
destroyed the
historic town
of Greenville and
589
buildings. Three
firefighters
were injured and
at least eight
people were
missing. The
cause of the
fire is still
unknown, though
drought, hot,
dry conditions,
and strong winds
have played a
role in
sustaining the
fire.
5,813 personnel
were assigned to
contain and
extinguish the
fire, which
burned in Lassen
Volcanic
National Park,
Lassen National
Forest, Plumas
National Forest,
and along the
shores of Lake
Almanor.
Like nearly all
of California,
the region has
endured serous
drought
conditions
through the
summer. Regional
drought reached
an intensity of
“exceptional” by
late July.
Correct Size Air
Filter is
Important
Choosing the
correctly sized
air filter is
important in
order to keep
air clean in
your home says
Alex Kenitzer
,Digital
Marketing
Specialist and
content writer
for AAF
Flanders.
An improperly
sized filter may
have limited
performance.
Determining the
proper air
filter size can
be confusing,
since filter
packages
generally
display two sets
of dimensions.
It is important
to understand
that these
dimension sets
are the nominal
and actual
dimensions of
the filter, and
differences
between the
two.
The dimensions
listed on the
side of air
filter frames
and printed
largest on air
filter packaging
are normally the
nominal size
dimensions.
These
measurements
indicate the
length, height,
and depth
(thickness) of
the air filter,
rounded up to
the nearest
inch. An example
of nominal
dimensions would
be 16” x 24” x
1”.
Actual Size:
These are
the exact
dimensions of
your air filter
when measuring
length, width,
and depth
(thickness). On
air filter
packaging this
number is
typically listed
under or to the
side of the
nominal size and
is normally in a
smaller font
size. Most
actual size
measurements
include
fractions. An
example of
actual size
dimensions would
be: 15 ½” x 19
¾” x ¾”.
Air filters are
grouped and sold
by their nominal
size, but it is
important to
know the actual
dimensions in
order to get the
best fit.
Different brands
may have the
same nominal
sized air
filters, but the
actual size
could be
slightly
different.
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