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Are Masks Mandatory?

Apr 21, 2020
At the beginning of this coronavirus pandemic, a spike in the demand of surgical masks and N95 particulate respirators happened almost instantly. Panic buying sent people to stockpile essentials of food, anti-cold and flu drugs, toilet paper. Other targeted items included cleaning products such as Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer, and of course, personal protective equipment (PPE) including latex gloves and surgical face masks. Government officials hurried to make announcements in hopes of decreasing the buying frenzy with mixed results.

Food and medications are still readily available but even large distributors like Amazon have a back order on surgical face masks of at least several weeks. Whatever stashes people managed to collect, once those are gone, that may be it for some time.

The inability to find face masks is now a particular problem in states like New York and Pennsylvania, who have recently declared face coverings mandatory for all who venture out into public spaces like grocery stores. In such places where people gather out of necessity, social distancing is not always practical. With this new regulation in place, people are looking at their own inventories of PPE with dismay.

As we settle into this pandemic, most individuals have already exhausted their private PPE stock, to say nothing of hospital workers. Nurses and doctors on the front lines fighting this disease are starting to rely on last resort measures to protect themselves. Medical professionals have been seen sporting garbage bags in place of hospital gowns and bandanas where surgical masks and N95 particulate respirators are nowhere to be found.

As global supplies dwindled, an agreement was reached for the public to refrain from buying N95 respirators and even surgical face masks. It was decided the best use of this PPE was by medical professionals caring for those with coronavirus or testing those suspected of infection.

Both respirators and surgical face masks were designed as single use items. N95 masks are particulate respirators able to filter out 95% infectious particles as small as the coronavirus while still being breathable. Surgical masks are second best to them. They have a critical flaw in that they are looser fitting around the sides, potentially allowing pathogens access to the nose and mouth.

The growing number of coronavirus cases has forced those in medicine to reuse their face masks between cases. While this unregulated practice extends the use of the masks, doctors and nurses fear the possibility of spreading covid-19 particles on the outside of the masks between healthy and unhealthy patients. Another concern is the consequences of prolonged contact with a potentially contaminated face mask on the users themselves.

These face masks cannot be washed since any water at all would quickly destroy the integrity of the face mask and the elasticity of the straps. One work around is to wear a cloth covering over the mask but since the shortage of surgical and respirator face masks, even these less appealing situations are no longer available.

The shortage of effective face masks seemed somewhat unimportant to the general public considering the evidence against cloth or even surgical face mask use. The looser fitting structure of the surgical face mask simply is not as effective as the N95 respirators being saved for the medical field, but of course is better than nothing for those working in healthcare.

Furthermore, evidence supported that cloth face coverings were ineffective against shielding the wearer from covid-19 particles. With this fact circulating that the covering would not protect individuals, some elected to forego wearing a mask with little concern.

Around the beginning of April, all of this changed as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially recommended the use of cloth face masks. It is still known that nothing less than an N95 respirator provides a suitable enough face mask to protect against contracting the coronavirus. What has changed is the obvious barrier protection reusable cloth face masks can provide.

Those infected with the coronavirus can slow the spread by wearing the face mask in public. Since the majority of the infected may only experience mild symptoms, it’s possible they may venture out for groceries or medication while ill. In this case, wearing even a layered cotton face mask is enough to help to prevent virus particles they may sneeze or cough from spreading in the air to infect those around them.

Even without being ill, an infected person can still spread the coronavirus. Within the possible 14 day incubation period before the disease hits, there are several days before illness where a person may feel fine but shed infectious particles to those around them. Any shopping or appointments they go to during this time puts others at risk, especially the elderly or those who already have health conditions.

Talking loudly can also project the virus into another person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. An added concern is the fact that spit often unintentionally flies even if an individual tries to pronounce words carefully and keep their speaking volume at an appropriate level. In all these circumstances, wearing a cloth covering or reusable face mask protects those around us in public places.

Following advice from the CDC, President Trump emphasized the recommendation to cover up in public but was clear it is not a legal requirement. With the controversy over how face masks can work decided on, many expect this to become a regulation in the near future.

Already the growing rise of coronavirus cases overshadowing New York has caused the state’s governor Andrew Cuomo to take this health directive one step further. New Yorkers must now follow law to wear a cloth face covering in New York wherever social distancing is not possible. In the face of disappearing PPE, this raises many concerns.

To help fulfill the legal obligation, individuals in many communities have stepped up to the plate, privately supplying small numbers of reusable masks to families as they can. Recommendations have been floating around that multiple layers of cloth are desirable for reusable face masks. Some even go so far as to sew them with pockets so that coffee filters or even HEPA filters can be inserted for further protection.

Health officials however warn that if HEPA filters are to be used, the wearer should always be careful to make sure the filter is of a type that does not contain fiberglass. Use of those filters that do contain this material risk the individual inhaling fiberglass into the lungs, causing dire consequences.

As governor Cuomo and President Trump exchange bitter words about the conditions in New York, many of that state’s residents are hustling to get masks out to the general public. Those involved include dentists, police officers, and even furriers.

Surprisingly Pennsylvania’s state Governor Tom Wolf fell in line behind Governor Cuomo on April 15th. Despite what seems to be a flattening curve to the spread of covid-19, Gov. Wolf believes the benefits of wearing a cloth face covering will go further to protect those most vulnerable to the disease.

Currently, essential businesses still in operation such as groceries and pharmacies, now have the legal right to turn away anyone who attempts to enter without wearing an adequate cloth facial covering. Containing the spread of coronavirus is an admirable achievement but as Governor Wolf knows, the efforts in place so far are only the first steps to beating this pandemic. It is clear the hope in Pennsylvania is that a serious attitude towards the recommendations of the CDC will help eliminate the outbreak.

As the pattern of state law mandating the use of reusable face masks continues, small and large businesses who are still operating have a challenge ahead of them to make sure their employees also wear masks. Supplying these organizations will be tougher as the option of having private individuals sewing them together will understandably take longer to create the numbers.

Each employee would ideally have at least one back up face covering, to say nothing of the customers who enter unprepared or find themselves in need of another reusable face mask for whatever reason. In those cases, it may be to the company’s advantage to keep a small cache of face masks that can be given or sold to customers.

Luckily some companies, especially in New York, are turning their talents to do what they can in providing washable face masks. Most of these require patterns that are sewn by hand but any attempts to turn out bulk quantities will be useful.

Bulk orders of cloth face masks are obviously beneficial for the larger orders that can be expected by essential services still doing business. Invisible Defender is one company currently operating to supply this need. Invisible Defender is a brand new company comprised of familiar American manufacturers stepping in to help fill the void of reusable PPE. Their face masks are 100% American products and they produce tens of thousands per day using American employees.

Unlike conditions in poorer countries that manufacture various clothing items, a company making cloth face masks in the U.S.A. has much better working conditions, which is reflected in the price of the product. Typical unit price for a cotton face mask produced at Invisible Defender is about $6.95, which is still in good comparison to other products available.

Invisible Defender is pulling its weight to provide Americans with an American solution. States that go the way of New York and Pennsylvania, as well as those states themselves, will be glad of a solution that can cover the large quantities of reusable face masks that we can see will be needed. As production continues in bulk quantities, orders of reusable face masks from Invisible Defender must also be sold in bulk.

These reusable face masks are meticulously hand sewn and shrink tested. They have a known life span of 20-25 washes, a specification lacking in most other manufacturers of cloth face masks. If you own a business in operation, you should consider this purchase against the possibility of future requirement by your state government.

If you own a business that is not in operation, take into consideration that recommendations regarding cloth face masks are likely not going to disappear quickly, even after this pandemic is under control. Consider your own bulk order in the eventuality you return to work and have to provide employees with one or more cloth face coverings, or would like to extend coverings to your clients as a curtesy or a paid product. Go here to view your options with Invisible Defender.

Private citizens who are not business owners, or even those who have suffered job less due to the current pandemic, should also consider these reusable face masks. One sure way to get ahold of multiple masks per person would be to round up the number of masks other neighbors may need and place a bulk order. Such community leaders would definitely be providing a service in this manner.

Face mask cost at Invisible Defender is nothing to sneeze at, but wary buyers can rest more easily knowing Invisible Defender uses an escrow company. This means that after a purchase is made, the money only goes to Invisible Defender when product is shipped. Half the payment leaves escrow at that time, and the other half when face mask delivery is complete and signed for. This is the best no-risk situation anyone is likely to find.

Visit Invisible Defender today. If anything is sure, it is that the future is uncertain, especially where cloth face coverings is concerned. Make certain you, your loved ones, and your business will be prepared no matter how the dust settles. Get a mask, stay home as much as possible, and stay safe. Go here to check out the products at Invisible Defender today.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU.
21 Apr, 2020
There have been many pandemics affecting humankind before. The Black Death, small pox, and Spanish influenza most readily come to mind. The details of fighting an invisible attacker and the body count that mounts up in outbreaks seem to belong to the pages of history books that tell us what life was like long ago. Many of us never thought something like this could happen in our lifetime. Even as some of us watched the news and took note of the new illness devastating China, we focused on it for the moment, then put it out of mind altogether. How could something related to the consumption of bats on the other side of the world affect us so drastically at home? Even if we considered this virus was on its way to us, well, we’ve survived SARS, MERS, and two kinds of particularly nasty flu viruses (avian and swine influenza) already. Perhaps we should have learned something at the time, but those past diseases did not prepare us for this. We find ourselves navigating unchartered territory in an effort to protect the especially vulnerable among us. Although we watched the spread of covid-19 from China to South Korea, and marked its deadly process across Europe, especially the awful situation in Italy, we were not able to stop the virus from setting up shop here. Now we face a second challenge: that of decreased personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE such as face masks, face shields, and hospital gowns are chiefly supplied by foreign retailers. Both foreign and domestic businesses that provide PPE have been fighting high demands for several months now, leaving strained inventories that quickly became overwhelmed in our pandemic. Disposable PPE, which is now becoming harder to find than a hen with teeth, is being replaced with reusable counterparts. As if the struggle to find reusable PPE wasn’t bad enough, another difficulty has resulted from covid-19: companies are struggling to keep afloat. To slow the spread of the disease, quarantine measures have been put in place, keeping individuals at home. To facilitate this, the government has shut down all non-essential businesses and some smaller ones have closed altogether for good. This leaves us with the added fear of when this pandemic is over…what will be left? In this time of crisis, a light shines out to counter both the shortage of reusable PPE and the difficulties of companies pushing to survive the pandemic. Innovative thinkers turn their talents from their designated fields to other interests that better serve the burdens currently placed on communities and healthcare facilities. Pivoting to solve immediate problems of the lack of PPE, companies who are able are using their resources and materials to come to the aid of healthcare workers. Private citizens also are stepping up. There are new options available for reusable PPE such as face masks and hospital gowns, thanks to the quick thinking and hard work of individuals and businesses. Of course, the limitations of reusable PPE are forefront in our minds (these are discussed at length elsewhere), but let’s concentrate on the best solution that is available as we fight this pandemic. Although disposable equipment such as N95 respirators and sterile disposable hospital gowns can protect us better, reusable equipment lasts longer. Some items that fall in the disposable category (such as N95 respirators, which are for single use) are heavily recommended to be kept for frontline health workers and first responders. Companies and communities have come together to build a base for reusable face masks for sale, but a lesser focused-on challenge is the shortage of hospital gowns in hospitals and other healthcare centers. Hospitable gowns are most commonly used for doctors and nurses treating infectious or immunocompromised patients, or laboratory analysts working with human fluids. These gowns were manufactured to be used in a single encounter with an at-risk patient, and then disposed of. In this way the wearer’s clothing and skin are protected and the spread of disease by the health care worker is limited. The hospital gown can easily go on over scrubs and is easily removed. At the next encounter with an at-risk patient, a new gown is worn. As we focus on the battle with covid-19, single use of hospital gowns are no longer possible. Too many cases come through the doors for healthcare workers to change gowns between every patient. Dwindling stock was pushed to last longer by keeping the same gown on while seeing different patients. Even this solution was not enough. As inventory depleted, health centers find themselves hard pressed to protect their numerous doctors, nurses, and other staff who have put themselves in harm’s way of contracting covid-19 in order to care for those who have the contagious virus. Last resort ideas were put into effect, such as workers wearing garbage bags over their clothes in a poor imitation of the hospital gowns they were used to. Moreover, disposable gowns are made of thin materials of paper and plastic. Can these hospital gowns be cleaned? Considering they easily tear in everyday use, it is unlikely they will withstand the hot temperature and cycles of a washing machine. Meanwhile the situation in hospitals, health offices, and especially in nursing homes (where the most vulnerable to this disease reside), is dire. Individuals in different communities who know of this problem facing healthcare workers are putting forth strong efforts to contribute to supply. Some fashion companies and even car manufacturers are putting their materials to further this cause. A new company has sprung into action to join the ranks of those working to correct the hospital gown shortage. Invisible Defender provides a great solution for the shortage of PPE, including reusable hospital gowns. Partnered with American manufacturers and retailers, they are producing face masks and hospital gowns for sale in bulk. Bulk orders provide two benefits to customers. As Invisible Defender produces reusable hospital gowns in the thousands per day, selling in bulk packages allows them to provide the best price point per unit. Although the hospital gown cost is still likely higher than that of disposable products, the quality of reusable gowns is higher than disposable in regards to its durability. Buying in bulk also enables health organizations to protect all employees together, and avoid picking and choosing whose need is greatest. Other manufacturers, especially individuals in the community, are not able to keep up with bulk orders to provide this benefit. Purchasing through Invisible Defender allows enough PPE to protect employees as well as the rare hospital visitor permitted to see a loved one in critical condition. Buying in bulk also allows for multiple gowns per person. If the cost of a bulk order is still hard to swallow, Invisible Defender is equipped with a solution to set any customer at ease. They employ an escrow service to show they are not just out to make money without delivery. The escrow service component to payment means the money for hospital gown purchase is protected until product is on its way: buy hospital gowns and face masks online, pay half when they’re shipped, and half on delivery. That’s a win-win solution to stop your organization from being taken advantage of by so many new companies who have popped up looking to profit from a difficult and pressurized situation. Invisible Defender is a great example of how American companies who never gave PPE a second thought before are changing to cope with our new world. This important evolution highlights one way we can protect the future. Support this change in infrastructure in the hopes that if this situation ever repeats, these companies will be better placed to provide PPE to everyone in need. Although the PPE Invisible Defender supplies is not medical grade, the material is water resistant and the product is ideal for a hospital examination gown. By far the biggest benefit is a hospital gown that can be washed, a feature so critical at this time. Besides hospital gowns, they also supply reusable face masks. As face masks in public are becoming more common, even mandatory, a company that can supply them in bulk is an ace. Companies pivoting on their own or uniting under new banners are shoring up weaknesses never properly considered before. Now this nation is organizing efforts to create a safety net so that circumstances in another country (or even around the world) might not affect us at home so severely. These companies are likely to stay in place long after covid-19 disappears. As we focus on the pandemic at hand, we can find hope in the creation of new companies producing PPE in massive amounts to fit the growing need. This injection of supply into our weary healthcare field is going to make a huge difference. For an invisible attacker such as covid-19, we need an Invisible Defender. For more information on Invisible Defender, or to place an order, go here . DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU.
21 Apr, 2020
We are all waiting for life to return to normal, but some of these changes are sure to become permanent. Efforts to abide by new recommendations from health experts and requirements from the government have certainly led to some decrease in the spread of covid-19. Despite this, we watch the numbers of cases and deaths rise and sadly see our attempts are not enough. We are all constantly searching for ways to keep ourselves and our families safe in this outbreak.
20 Apr, 2020
Pennsylvania is now enforcing an order that requires face masks to be worn by workers and customers at essential businesses. The order requires businesses to deny entry to customers who do not wear masks, “unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods,” Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said. READ MORE
21 Apr, 2020
There have been many pandemics affecting humankind before. The Black Death, small pox, and Spanish influenza most readily come to mind. The details of fighting an invisible attacker and the body count that mounts up in outbreaks seem to belong to the pages of history books that tell us what life was like long ago. Many of us never thought something like this could happen in our lifetime. Even as some of us watched the news and took note of the new illness devastating China, we focused on it for the moment, then put it out of mind altogether. How could something related to the consumption of bats on the other side of the world affect us so drastically at home? Even if we considered this virus was on its way to us, well, we’ve survived SARS, MERS, and two kinds of particularly nasty flu viruses (avian and swine influenza) already. Perhaps we should have learned something at the time, but those past diseases did not prepare us for this. We find ourselves navigating unchartered territory in an effort to protect the especially vulnerable among us. Although we watched the spread of covid-19 from China to South Korea, and marked its deadly process across Europe, especially the awful situation in Italy, we were not able to stop the virus from setting up shop here. Now we face a second challenge: that of decreased personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE such as face masks, face shields, and hospital gowns are chiefly supplied by foreign retailers. Both foreign and domestic businesses that provide PPE have been fighting high demands for several months now, leaving strained inventories that quickly became overwhelmed in our pandemic. Disposable PPE, which is now becoming harder to find than a hen with teeth, is being replaced with reusable counterparts. As if the struggle to find reusable PPE wasn’t bad enough, another difficulty has resulted from covid-19: companies are struggling to keep afloat. To slow the spread of the disease, quarantine measures have been put in place, keeping individuals at home. To facilitate this, the government has shut down all non-essential businesses and some smaller ones have closed altogether for good. This leaves us with the added fear of when this pandemic is over…what will be left? In this time of crisis, a light shines out to counter both the shortage of reusable PPE and the difficulties of companies pushing to survive the pandemic. Innovative thinkers turn their talents from their designated fields to other interests that better serve the burdens currently placed on communities and healthcare facilities. Pivoting to solve immediate problems of the lack of PPE, companies who are able are using their resources and materials to come to the aid of healthcare workers. Private citizens also are stepping up. There are new options available for reusable PPE such as face masks and hospital gowns, thanks to the quick thinking and hard work of individuals and businesses. Of course, the limitations of reusable PPE are forefront in our minds (these are discussed at length elsewhere), but let’s concentrate on the best solution that is available as we fight this pandemic. Although disposable equipment such as N95 respirators and sterile disposable hospital gowns can protect us better, reusable equipment lasts longer. Some items that fall in the disposable category (such as N95 respirators, which are for single use) are heavily recommended to be kept for frontline health workers and first responders. Companies and communities have come together to build a base for reusable face masks for sale, but a lesser focused-on challenge is the shortage of hospital gowns in hospitals and other healthcare centers. Hospitable gowns are most commonly used for doctors and nurses treating infectious or immunocompromised patients, or laboratory analysts working with human fluids. These gowns were manufactured to be used in a single encounter with an at-risk patient, and then disposed of. In this way the wearer’s clothing and skin are protected and the spread of disease by the health care worker is limited. The hospital gown can easily go on over scrubs and is easily removed. At the next encounter with an at-risk patient, a new gown is worn. As we focus on the battle with covid-19, single use of hospital gowns are no longer possible. Too many cases come through the doors for healthcare workers to change gowns between every patient. Dwindling stock was pushed to last longer by keeping the same gown on while seeing different patients. Even this solution was not enough. As inventory depleted, health centers find themselves hard pressed to protect their numerous doctors, nurses, and other staff who have put themselves in harm’s way of contracting covid-19 in order to care for those who have the contagious virus. Last resort ideas were put into effect, such as workers wearing garbage bags over their clothes in a poor imitation of the hospital gowns they were used to. Moreover, disposable gowns are made of thin materials of paper and plastic. Can these hospital gowns be cleaned? Considering they easily tear in everyday use, it is unlikely they will withstand the hot temperature and cycles of a washing machine. Meanwhile the situation in hospitals, health offices, and especially in nursing homes (where the most vulnerable to this disease reside), is dire. Individuals in different communities who know of this problem facing healthcare workers are putting forth strong efforts to contribute to supply. Some fashion companies and even car manufacturers are putting their materials to further this cause. A new company has sprung into action to join the ranks of those working to correct the hospital gown shortage. Invisible Defender provides a great solution for the shortage of PPE, including reusable hospital gowns. Partnered with American manufacturers and retailers, they are producing face masks and hospital gowns for sale in bulk. Bulk orders provide two benefits to customers. As Invisible Defender produces reusable hospital gowns in the thousands per day, selling in bulk packages allows them to provide the best price point per unit. Although the hospital gown cost is still likely higher than that of disposable products, the quality of reusable gowns is higher than disposable in regards to its durability. Buying in bulk also enables health organizations to protect all employees together, and avoid picking and choosing whose need is greatest. Other manufacturers, especially individuals in the community, are not able to keep up with bulk orders to provide this benefit. Purchasing through Invisible Defender allows enough PPE to protect employees as well as the rare hospital visitor permitted to see a loved one in critical condition. Buying in bulk also allows for multiple gowns per person. If the cost of a bulk order is still hard to swallow, Invisible Defender is equipped with a solution to set any customer at ease. They employ an escrow service to show they are not just out to make money without delivery. The escrow service component to payment means the money for hospital gown purchase is protected until product is on its way: buy hospital gowns and face masks online, pay half when they’re shipped, and half on delivery. That’s a win-win solution to stop your organization from being taken advantage of by so many new companies who have popped up looking to profit from a difficult and pressurized situation. Invisible Defender is a great example of how American companies who never gave PPE a second thought before are changing to cope with our new world. This important evolution highlights one way we can protect the future. Support this change in infrastructure in the hopes that if this situation ever repeats, these companies will be better placed to provide PPE to everyone in need. Although the PPE Invisible Defender supplies is not medical grade, the material is water resistant and the product is ideal for a hospital examination gown. By far the biggest benefit is a hospital gown that can be washed, a feature so critical at this time. Besides hospital gowns, they also supply reusable face masks. As face masks in public are becoming more common, even mandatory, a company that can supply them in bulk is an ace. Companies pivoting on their own or uniting under new banners are shoring up weaknesses never properly considered before. Now this nation is organizing efforts to create a safety net so that circumstances in another country (or even around the world) might not affect us at home so severely. These companies are likely to stay in place long after covid-19 disappears. As we focus on the pandemic at hand, we can find hope in the creation of new companies producing PPE in massive amounts to fit the growing need. This injection of supply into our weary healthcare field is going to make a huge difference. For an invisible attacker such as covid-19, we need an Invisible Defender. For more information on Invisible Defender, or to place an order, go here . DISCLOSURE: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU.
21 Apr, 2020
We are all waiting for life to return to normal, but some of these changes are sure to become permanent. Efforts to abide by new recommendations from health experts and requirements from the government have certainly led to some decrease in the spread of covid-19. Despite this, we watch the numbers of cases and deaths rise and sadly see our attempts are not enough. We are all constantly searching for ways to keep ourselves and our families safe in this outbreak.
20 Apr, 2020
Pennsylvania is now enforcing an order that requires face masks to be worn by workers and customers at essential businesses. The order requires businesses to deny entry to customers who do not wear masks, “unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods,” Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said. READ MORE
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