Jan. 13, 2021

A light scrub: Sanitizing disposable masks

Simple decontamination method could allow reuse of single-use masks for frontline health-care workers

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Ensuring a world supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical workers has been one of the talked-about topics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, medical masks are designated as single use, but an effective decontamination and reuse strategy would ensure a sustained global supply.

Directed by the World Health Organization, the Development of Methods for Mask and N95 Decontamination Consortium is leading the evaluation of the reuse of masks for health-care workers at the frontline, particularly in countries and settings that may not have access to sufficient PPE or limited decontamination facilities. UCalgary researchers are part of this important study.

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