tft display as face mask made in china

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

SHANGHAI — As hospitals and governments hunt desperately for respirators and surgical masks to protect doctors and nurses from the coronavirus pandemic, they face a difficult reality: The world depends on China to make them, and the country is only beginning to share.

China made half the world’s masks before the coronavirus emerged there, and it has expanded production nearly 12-fold since then. But it has claimed mask factory output for itself. Purchases and donations also brought China a big chunk of the world’s supply from elsewhere.

Now, worries about mask supplies are rising. As the virus’s global spread escalates, governments around the world are restricting exports of protective gear, which experts say could worsen the pandemic.

That has put growing pressure on China to meet the world’s needs, even as it continues to grapple with the coronavirus itself. Although government data suggests China has brought infection rates under control, epidemiologists warn that its outbreak could flare again as officials loosen travel limits and more people return to work.

Peter Navarro, an adviser to President Trump on manufacturing and trade, contended on Fox Business last month that China had essentially taken over factories that make masks on behalf of American companies. Beijing, he said, had opted to “nationalize effectively 3M, our company.”

In a statement, Minnesota-based 3M said most of the masks it made at its factory in Shanghai had been sold within China even before the outbreak. It declined to comment on when exports from China might resume.

China may be easing its grip as the world’s needs grow. Tan Qunhong, the general manager of a small manufacturer of disposable masks in central China, said that she had filled the government’s purchase orders and was starting to resume exports. The Chinese government is also shipping masks abroad as part of goodwill packages.

Other manufacturers say the Chinese government is still claiming all the masks that their factories in the country make. “Mask exports are still not authorized, but we are following the situation every day,” said Guillaume Laverdure, chief operating officer of Medicom, a Canadian manufacturer that makes three million masks a day at its Shanghai factory.

The Communist Party cast aside restrictive “zero Covid” policy, which set off mass protests that were a rare challenge to the Communist leadership.Medicine Shortages:As Covid rips through parts of China, millions are struggling to find treatment — from the most basic cold remedies to take at home to more powerful antivirals for patients in hospitals.

A Cloudy Picture:Despite Beijing’s assurances that the situation is under control, data on infections has become more opaque amid loosened pandemic constraints.

Much as it dominates manufacturing of cars, steel, electronics and other necessities, China is essential to the world’s supply of protective medical gear. Most of what it makes are the disposable surgical masks worn by health professionals. It makes a smaller number of N95 respirator masks, which provide more filtration for doctors and nurses.

The general public does not need to wear masks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But demand for surgical masks has skyrocketed in China, where the police require anyone who goes out in public to wear a mask.

Though companies say China is claiming virtually all mask output, the Chinese government said it had never issued a regulation prohibiting mask exports and was willing to work with other countries to share.

China did not just stop selling masks — it also bought up much of the rest of the world’s supply. According to official data, China imported 56 million respirators and masks in the first week after the January lockdown of the city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged.

On Jan. 30, the last day for which data is available, China managed to import 20 million respirators and surgical masks in just 24 hours. Through February, civic-minded entrepreneurs and aid groups visited pharmacies in affluent countries and emerging markets alike, buying masks in bulk to send to China.

Global companies and charities donated, too. Honeywell provided 500,000 N95 respirator masks, and 3M donated a million of them. Honeywell said its contribution came from stockpiles in China, while 3M declined to identify the source of its donations.

Since then, China has undertaken a mobilization of wartime proportions to expand its output of disposable surgical masks. Daily production soared from about 10 million at the start of February to 115 million at the end of the month, according to the Chinese government.

Yuan Fajun, the secretary general of the medical materials committee at the China Medical Pharmaceutical Material Association, said manufacturers still needed to produce another 230 million surgical masks for the domestic market. But the recent surge in production means that those orders can be met and exports should be possible, he said.

Hundreds of small companies have started making masks. A General Motors joint venture in southwestern China built 20 of its own mask-making machines and began bulk production.

The Chinese government has begun some shipments to other countries as part of aid packages. It donated 250,000 masks last month to Iran, one of the countries hardest hit by the epidemic, and 200,000 to the Philippines. This week it said it would send five million masks to South Korea and export 100,000 respirators and two million surgical masks to Italy.

China’s government is not the only one that has played a big role in mask allocation. Taiwan, South Korea and India have all taken steps to stop mask exports.

Citing shortages that endanger doctors and nurses, the French government last week requisitioned all mask production through the end of May. It is also pressing French medical supply factories to produce N95 masks and surgical masks around the clock for domestic use only.

Valmy SAS, a midsize medical supplies maker near Lyon, France, was unable to fulfill an order for a million masks by the British National Health Service because the French government requisitioned supplies. “They tell me what to make and I make it,” said Nicolas Brillat, the company’s director.

Germany and the Czech Republic last week banned the export of face masks and other protective equipment. In Italy, where the government has placed nearly all of the population on lockdown since Monday, masks and other protective medical supplies may not leave the country without authorization.

The governments did not give production numbers or say how many masks they needed to cover at-risk populations. But officials in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and other European Union countries warned that the curbs were preventing suppliers from delivering to neighboring countries.

Standing at the factory fence, which was topped with six strands of electrified wire, a worker who gave only his family name, Zhou, said the masks had been helping China fight the virus.

Keith Bradsher reported from Shanghai, and Liz Alderman from Paris. Abby Goodnough and Ana Swanson contributed reporting from Washington. Coral Yang contributed research from Shanghai, and Cao Li from Hong Kong.

The highly contagious Omicron variant has sent us on a mad dash for more-protective masks, such as N95s, KN95s, and KF94s. And along with that comes the nagging concern over being duped by counterfeiters. At best, fake respirator masks are just a waste of money. At worst, they give those who need protection most a potentially dangerous false sense of security.

Whether it’s an imposter mask claiming to be from an established brand or a newcomer purporting to be highly protective, the problem is a matter of consistency. In September 2020, ECRI (a nonprofit that advises hospitals and health-care agencies on product safety) reported that 60% to 70% of KN95s it tested did not filter the 95% of particles that they promised to. Federal agencies seized a total of 21.2 million fake N95s that year, and the problem carried over well into 2021. Last May, investigators confiscated 2 million fake masks purchased and used by unsuspecting hospitals in Portland, Maine.

The best way to find legitimate masks is to buy ones made by reputable manufacturers and sold by trusted retailers. (In our guide to N95, KN95, and surgical-style masks, we explain how to do that, and we recommend specific masks that have passed government tests or independent lab tests to confirm their filtration efficacy.) But sometimes you end up with a pile of masks of dubious provenance, courtesy of your workplace or a well-meaning relative. Or you might be tempted by a good deal from a brand you haven’t heard of. Or maybe you have little choice but to buy whatever is on the drugstore shelf.

Sloppier fakes are easier to detect, however, and they’re still out there. A little common sense and knowledge can go a long way. N95s—which have passed strict tests administered by NIOSH, including demonstrating 95% filtration efficiency under set conditions—require certain markings on the masks themselves. And this makes spotting the duds a lot easier. (The CDC’s page on counterfeit respirators shows images of several examples.)

KN95s (masks claiming to meet Chinese standards) and KF94s (those claiming to meet South Korean standards) require similar filtration efficiency to N95s but not the same markings, and so they can be tougher to evaluate by sight.

After interviewing multiple experts, we’ve zeroed in on 12 red flags to look out for. Except for the N95 requirements (which are clear cut), consider these tips as guideposts—after all, it’s possible to have a legit design that falls short of best practices or illegitimate masks that check all the boxes. Generally speaking, the more problems you see, particularly with unestablished brands, the more reasons you have to be suspicious.

There’s no company or location information. Legitimate respirators should state where the masks were manufactured. There should also be a legitimate website or physical address so you can get in touch with the manufacturer, should you have questions or problems.

There’s no expiration date. Because the particle-repelling electrostatic charge on respirator masks eventually degrades over time, there should always be an expiration date listed on the packaging. Even likelier to deteriorate are the elastomeric materials in the straps and the components that hold them in place, said Baxter.

Official terminology is used incorrectly. Any packaging that states a mask is “FDA approved” is a red flag. An N95 is approved by NIOSH, not the FDA (though a surgical N95 must also be authorized or cleared by the FDA). However, neither NIOSH nor the FDA provide so-called certificates of approval, “so any enclosed letter of certification is false,” said ECRI’s president and CEO, Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD.

Packaging may often state that KN95s or KF94s are “FDA-registered” or “FDA-listed,” but this is a low bar. It simply means the manufacturer has filed the paperwork to make the FDA aware of its existence; it doesn’t mean the masks have been tested or authorized.

The company tries too hard (or not hard enough). If the packaging says “genuine,” “legitimate,” “authentic,” or “reputable,” you should view the mask with skepticism, as the CDC explains on its National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) tips page. After all, if the company were an established, trusted manufacturer, it wouldn’t feel a need to claim itself as such. Conversely, if there are typos or grammatical errors on the packaging, “that’s a hint it’s from a company that doesn’t care about the quality of their product,” said Nikki Vars McCullough, a vice president in the personal safety division at 3M, whose N95s have been a favorite of counterfeiters.

There’s no branding. You should see the name of the company or logo right on the mask, whether it’s an N95, KN95, or a KF94. “Commercially speaking, companies are in the mask business to build brand loyalty and generate sales,” said Anne Miller, executive director of Project N95, a nonprofit clearinghouse that vets and sells masks. A blank mask runs counter to that goal. (Athough the vast majority of masks we tested included branding right on the mask, there can always be exceptions, particularly on masks for kids.)

You notice quality-control issues. A crooked nose-bridge wire, elastics that lose their stretch or detach easily—these shouldn’t be found on any of your masks. These issues affect the fit and consistency of the mask and wouldn’t pass muster for a reputable brand.

There’s no approval number. This alphanumeric designation starts with the letters “TC-84A,” followed by four additional digits, and can be found on the mask or the bands. If there is one, check for it on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List. (Sometimes, crafty counterfeiters make one up, says the FBI. It’s also possible, though, that some might just steal one from a legitimate mask, whether or not they co-opted the branding as well.)

The mask has ear loops. Legitimate N95 masks never have ear loops; instead they have a pair of elastic bands that go around the back of the head. This typically creates a tighter seal than the ear loops characteristic of KN95s and KF94s.

It’s labeled for children. There are no kid-size N95 masks. Only adult-size masks undergo the NIOSH approval process and can be designated as N95s. So anything labeled as a “Kids N95” is, by definition, a phony. However, there are legitimate children’s-size KN95 and KF94 masks, including those we recommend in our guide to the best masks for kids and toddlers.

There’s no GB marking. The KN95 standard requires that masks made after July 1, 2021, be stamped with GB2626-2019, which provides reassurance that the manufacturer constructed the mask according to current Chinese respirator standards, Miller said. A mask with a GB number ending in 2006 was made according to the previous standard and is still legitimate if the expiration date hasn"t passed.

To address domestic shortages of masks, many countries have put in place restrictions on exports or equivalent measures such as the compulsory purchase by governments of all available stocks. In China, there was no regulation prohibiting exports but a form of compulsory purchase, with all orders in January and February going to the government and exports resuming in March. Chinese Taipei was the first economy to ban exports of masks on 24 January 2020; many others have subsequently introduced export bans (Table 1). These export bans or compulsory purchases are generally temporary, with some already removed. Countries banning exports are not all producers or exporters of masks (see Figure 2 for the main exporters); non-producers can be motivated by a desire to prevent hoarding or to avoid the export of masks already imported to be sold at a higher price abroad.

While some EU countries producing masks have enacted export bans, an EU-wide regulation was adopted on 15 March 2020 introducing export authorisations. Exports are not banned, but the needs of EU countries have to be taken into account before authorising exports.18 A similar system has been implemented in the United States since 10 April 2020, with a temporary rule from the Federal Emergency Management Agency banning exports of masks, but providing a list of exemptions (e.g. covering pre-existing commercial relationships). Export licenses or permits for face masks have also been introduced in other countries (Table 1).

Some countries have facilitated trade in masks and other protective equipment by removing tariffs or by suspending licensing and certification requirements. The importance of keeping supply chains open was emphasised in a joint ministerial statement by Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Singapore affirming their commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Import tariffs on face masks have been temporarily eliminated in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, India, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Viet Nam, and the United Kingdom.19 It should be noted that in this list Colombia, Ecuador, Malaysia, and Ukraine have both banned exports and removed barriers on imports, which seems logical in order to maximise the availability of masks within the country, but raises the question of what happens if all countries do the same.

Export restrictions have three consequences. First, they prevent some countries with no production capacity from gaining access to masks. Second, they can backfire when countries holding masks need more or need to import other essential medical supplies (or inputs to manufacture masks). Export licenses and authorisations can discourage exports but also delay trade when the export is approved, which stands in contradiction to the emergency nature of the need – generally also one of the criteria for authorising exports. Third, export restrictions push prices up and foster illegal activities (black markets and scams).

Export restrictions can also create uncertainty that impacts firms’ investment strategies. In China, several of the main producers of masks are foreign-owned firms. Factories of 3M and Honeywell (United States) or Medicom (Canada) were mainly producing for the Chinese market, but were also unable to export masks in January and February 2020. In France, the government requisitioned masks produced by the Swedish firm Mölnlycke and destined for other EU markets. The main producer of masks in France, Kolmi-Hopen, is also an affiliate of Medicom (Canada). Manufacturers of masks generally favour production close to consumers to build robust supply chains. For example, before the COVID-19 crisis, 3M already had a strategy based on local supply in Asia. Export restrictions could discourage these foreign companies from investing, denying the recipient country the benefits from foreign firms bringing the capital and know-how to create local capacity in the production of medical supplies.

Countries are also tightening investment screening for firms identified as strategic and that may be subject to hostile takeovers. For example, EU guidance issued on 25 March encouraged Member States to make full use of FDI screening mechanisms for investment in healthcare-related industries, and also encouraged Member States that currently do not have a screening mechanism to set one up.20

There is a need to find the right balance between protecting domestic firms from opportunistic acquisition during the crisis and avoiding barriers that will jeopardize future investment in the recovery phase. Measures such as nationalisations and expropriations – direct or indirect – could also have implications for future investment.

Since the emergence and detection of Covid-19 in China and its declaration as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Murray et al., 2020), various measures have been put in place in different countries across the world to contain the virus and its further spread. Governments at all levels have brought up different ideas, including lockdown (staying at home), which has been adjudged the most effective preventive measure so far. Others are social distancing, travel restriction, isolation, good hand hygiene (washing of hands), avoiding public or crowded spaces as well as the mass wearing of disposable face masks (Freedman, 2020; Lin et al., 2020; Chintalapudi et al., 2020). Although the disposable face masks were primarily made for the protection of health-care workers (HCWs) to prevent occupational hazards, non-medical professionals adopted the use of face masks during the outbreak of SARS in 2003 and pdm H1N1 in 2009 (Elachola et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2008). Moreso, authorities had recommended the same for the masses to stem the widespread of these viruses. In regards to the current pandemic, researchers have advocated for the use of face masks by the general public until the mode of transmission of Covid-19 is fully understood (Leung et al., 2020). It has also been argued that it can help in reducing the number of times a person touches the face/mouth/nose with unwashed hands, which can significantly reduce the chance of infection. Previous studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of face masks in protecting against respiratory infection during Hajj (Elachola et al., 2014; Barasheed et al., 2016).

The introduction of face masks (Wu et al., 2020) as one of the precautionary measures to slow down the transmission rate of Covid-19 from person to person has resulted in a global shortage of face masks for the most venerable group, which are the HCWs (Wu et al., 2020). According to the WHO estimates, approximately 89 million medical masks were needed to respond to Covid-19 each month (WHO, 2020). This demand has resulted in an unprecedented rise in the global production of face masks which are produced using polymeric materials. Major players in face mask production have therefore scaled up their output. For instance, China increased its daily production of medical masks to 14.8 million as of February 2020 (Xinhua, 2020). Also, according to the Japanese Ministry of economy, trade, and industry (METI), over 600 million order of face masks per month was secured as of April 2020 (METI, 2020). The demand is expected to increase as the number of Covid-19 infected persons globally stands at 3.84 million, with over 260, 000 deaths as of May 7, 2020 (Worldometer, 2020). Moreso, many countries are relaxing lockdown orders due to the adverse effects on the economy and mental health, and this could lead to a second wave of infection.

Disposable face masks (single use face masks) are produced from polymers such as polypropylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, or polyester (Potluri and Needham, 2005). They consist of three layers; an inner layer (soft fibers), middle layer (melt-blown filter), and an outer layer (nonwoven fibers, which are water-resistant and usually colored). The melt-blown filter is the main filtering layer of the mask produced by the conventional fabrication of micro- and nanofibers, where melted polymer is extruded through tiny nozzles, with high speed blowing gas (Dutton, 2008). Fig. 1

shows the basic principle of face mask production through electrospinning (Zafar et al., 2016). There may exist variations in the formation of the product from one manufacturer to the other. Table 1

The increase in production and consumption of face mask across the world has given rise to a new environmental challenge, adding to the vast plastic and plastic particle waste in the environment. Some of these materials are getting into waterways from where they reach the freshwater and marine environment adding to the presence of plastics in the aquatic medium. For instance, OceansAsia, an organization committed to advocacy and research on marine pollution, reported in February 2020, the presence of face masks of different types and colours in an ocean in Hong Kong. Also, the collection of face masks along a highway and drainage in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, on May 5, 2020 (Fig. 2

). This new emergence of face masks as environmental litter both in the terrestrial and aquatic environment is a piece of evidence that the global pandemic has not in any way reduced the challenge of increasing plastic pollution in the environment.

Collection of various Covid-19 face masks of different types and colours from an ocean and terrestrial environment in Hong Kong and Nigeria respectively. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

Single-use polymeric materials have been identified as a significant source of plastics and plastic particle pollution in the environment (Schnurr et al., 2018). For instance, plastic packaging materials, drinking bottles, and fast food containers are leading sources of microplastics pollution globally (Fadare et al., 2020). Similarly, disposable face masks (single use) that get to the environment (disposal in landfill, dumpsites, freshwater, oceans or littering at public spaces) could be emerging new source of microplastic fibers, as they can degrade/fragment or break down into smaller size/pieces of particles under 5 mm known as microplastics under environmental conditions. The Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis (see Supporting Information for details) of the degrading face masks (Fig. 3

) was carried out using PerkinElmer, UATR Two, USA, against a plastic specific spectral library (Perkin Elmer ATR of Polymers Library). The spectra showed a characteristic peaks of a polypropylene for the outer layer (Fig. 3a) and polyethylene high density for the inner layer (Fig. 3b). The spectra provide a piece of evidence that face masks could increase the accumulation of their related microparticles in the environment within a short time.

Face masks at different stages of degradation in the environment and typical FT-IR spectra of the degrading fibers, outer layer (a) and inner layer (b).

The environmental implication of plastics and plastic particles pollution have been enumerated and demonstrated by erudite scholars in various literature (Browne et al., 2008; Cole et al., 2014; Galloway et al., 2017; Rist et al., 2018; Wright et al., 2013). Some of these adverse consequences include threat to aquatic lives, which constitute a major part of the food web and support to human existence. Plastic particles are getting into foods meant for human consumption, raising a concern on global food safety (Fadare et al., 2020). Reduction in aesthetic and recreational worth, which are vital to human social and mental stability. The presence of plastics in the environment has also been reported as contributing significantly to climate change due to carbon emission and a greater risk to the global food chain (Reid et al., 2019; Shen et al., 2019).

Another implication of this indiscriminately disposed face masks in the environment is the possibility of acting as a medium for disease outbreak, as plastic particles are known to propagate microbes such as invasive pathogens (Reid et al., 2019).

Although there is currently no unified international regulation on plastics regulation and pollution management, probably due to conflict of economic interests, few countries have however, put in place strict measures to curb the unabated proliferation of plastic waste. For instance, the Marine Waste Project of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), approved under the Marine Waste Action Acts by the European Commission, is expected to promote among other things, awareness towards plastic particles pollution through the public education program (Li et al., 2019). Also, countries like Ireland has placed levy on consumers of single-use bag, China and South Africa combined both ban and levies on retailers. While placing ban on face masks remains the least option at the moment, considering its positive impacts in the ongoing global fight against the Covid-19, sensitization of the populace can greatly help in the management of these litters. Furthermore, strengthening critical thinking in research to provide eco-friendly alternatives while enhancing effective waste management system can assist in finding a sustainable solution to plastic pollution. Mobilization and awareness on Covid-19 prevention are intense across the globe; it will indeed be laudable if the awareness on safeguarding our environment through reduction, elimination (where possible) and proper management of our disposable face masks can as well be carried along. Who knows? Plastic pollution may be the next world pandemic.

The major findings of this study were that nearly all people wore masks in the context of COVID-19, and most participants demonstrated good compliance in terms of mask-wearing behaviours in general; however, hand hygiene before and during mask use, the rationale for choice of mask, reusing disposal face masks, and the disposal of disposable masks required improvement. Furthermore, whether or not participants had received instructions on face mask use was the strongest predictor of good mask-wearing behaviours, irrespective of their educational backgrounds. Other factors associated with good compliance included specific situations, location, and gender. The influence of age needs further investigation.

Handwashing is one of the most overlooked actions, with concerns owing to a false sense of security related to the wearing of face masks. In our study, nearly half of the participants seldom cleaned their hands before donning a mask, whereas more than two-thirds of them appropriately used proper hand cleaning when they doffed the mask. Of note, most participants touched or adjusted their masks while wearing them, more than half of whom did not wash their hands afterward. Thus, it seemed that the concerns may be true. However, a systematic review reported that hand hygiene was poorly practiced globally even after contact with excreta, with prevalence varying between 5% and 25% in low- and middle-income countries and 48% to 72% in high-income countries (Freeman et al., 2014). With increased risk perceptions, such as during the height of the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic from March to April 2003 in Hong Kong, 65.3% washed their hands after relevant contact (Leung et al., 2003). An obvious increase in hand hygiene was also observed during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Thailand due to the extensive national hand hygiene educational campaigns (Simmerman et al., 2011). Therefore, it is important to increase the public"s risk perception and to strengthen efforts to disseminate relevant guidance. Our study revealed that participants were aware of the need for hand hygiene after removing a mask; however, such measures need to be emphasized before wearing masks and for the time during which individuals are wearing masks. It is recommended to have a sanitiser or some disinfectant wipes on hand in order to address the inconvenience of frequent hand hygiene.

Reasonable selection of different types of face masks is another problem for the public. As shown in Table 3, more than one-quarter of participants wore N95 respirators, which are not recommended for the general population, and 30.1% of the participants described wearing multiple masks simultaneously. The public may not know that the reliability of N95 respirators to prevent the spread of such airborne infectious diseases depends on their fit to the wearer and that fit testing is required before the use of N95 respirators to ensure the best fit possible (CDC, 2020), and N95 respirators are not more effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza than disposable medical masks (Long et al., 2020). Moreover, more adverse effects and discomfort were associated with N95 respirators and multiple masks (Macintyre et al., 2013; Kao et al., 2004).Therefore, the public should be aware of the related issues to avoid a blind choice of mask types. It was plausible for the public to use cloth masks as alternatives when the medical masks were in shortage, which was also recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the general population in public settings since April (CDC, 2020). It is noted that before disposable masks were available, cloth masks were widely used by health providers during operations (Leung et al., 2020).

Reusing face masks is an inevitable issue when facing a mask availability crisis. Under the severe situation of mask shortage, the general population were recommended to reuse disposable masks if they are clean, but should be replaced with new masks if dirty or used for more than 8 hours (National Health Commission of the People"s Republic of China, March 18, 2020). In our survey, more than half of the respondents reused disposable masks, but more than one third of them did not replace with a new one even it has been used for more than 8 hours. Most people hung the used mask in well-ventilated places for the next time. Other ways, such as using alcohol, steaming, boiling, and inserting a gauze or wearing a cloth mask inside the disposable mask, were also adopted by some members of the public. Of note, no evidence supports the disinfection of disposable masks. As cloth mask can be easily washed with soap and water or laundry detergent to prevent contamination (Desai et al., 2020), it should be recommended as the preferred option for the general population in the face of mask shortage (CDC, 2020).

Another concern is the disposal of used masks. WHO required that people discard used masks immediately in a closed bin (WHO, 2020b). Our survey revealed that 7.6% of the respondents discarded their masks into a garbage bin without a lid and 22.5% threw them into whatever garbage bins were available regardless of whether they had lids. This may be because the Chinese National Health Commissiononly emphasized that confirmed and suspected cases must dispose of used masks as medical waste, while healthy people should follow the disposal rules for household waste (National Health Commission of the People"s Republic of China, Jan. 31, 2020). Many communities and public areas were given trash bins for the used masks, and more than half of the respondents reported disposing of the masks this way. However, discarded face masks were reportedly found in many places, such as buses, train stations, streets, etc (Wang et al., 2020). As we considered that respondents were less likely to report discarding masks anywhere, we did not ask them about this behaviour. Therefore, specific measures to address mask disposal should be actively promoted and more trash bins for used masks with attractive logo should be placed in public areas.

Among the factors influencing mask-wearing behaviours, we found that people who exposed to instructions regarding how to use face masks demonstrated approximately four-fold better compliance than those who did not. Intriguingly, the higher the educational background, the worse the compliance. Thus, good mask-wearing habits appeared to depend on how much education about mask use had been received rather than on education levels. This finding also supported the hypothesis proposed by Greenhalgh and colleagues (2020) that, in the context of COVID-19, people can be taught to use masks properly and will do so consistently without abandoning other important anti-contagion measures. This evidence, combined with our results regarding the approaches that the participants took to obtaining related information, suggests that institutions and scholars should spare no efforts to disseminate guidance via various methods, among which social media may most benefit the public.

We also observed that different situations influenced people"s behaviours. People who were sick and who went to hospitals or clinics displayed much better compliance. This may be attributed to concerns about the high risks of COVID-19 transmission in these settings and the association between higher risk perception with good compliance with facemask use (MacIntyre et al, 2015; Rubin et al., 2009). Similarly, people living in the city showed better compliance than those among people in the countryside. Moreover, people from North and South China showed lower compliance than those in people from Central China, where people may perceive higher risks of infection rate. However, when people exhibited flu-like symptoms, such as cough and sneezing, they may feel discomfort and touch their facemasks frequently, leading to worsening compliance. In addition, people working in relatively enclosed or multiple settings and living in self-quarantine or with people in self-quarantine did not show higher compliance than those in people in outdoor open space. Participants showed lower compliance when studying or participating in events in crowds. Therefore, more education about frequent hand hygiene and facemask replacing when showing flu-like symptoms, as well as clear warnings and about the potential risks in different situations should be conveyed to the public.

Gender is another factor affecting mask-wearing behaviours. Consistent with previous studies investigating changes in public behaviours during influenza outbreaks (Rubin et al., 2009; Park et al., 2010), female participants in our survey exhibited better compliance with face mask use than the male participants. Nonetheless, the effect of age exhibited different patterns, with those aged 14 or below years old demonstrating the best compliance and other groups displaying increasing trends of better compliance with increasing age. This may be because 87.2% of the youngest group in our study was 12–14 years of age and had returned to school when we collected the data and were asked to wear masks under strict supervision by their teachers. This also suggests that strict management and education may improve public behaviours. However, the sample sizes of the youngest (n=407) and oldest groups(n=34) were relatively smaller than those in the age group of 15–34 (n=6330) and 35–65 (n=3394), thus the effect of age needs further investigation.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate mask-wearing behaviours by the general public in the context of pandemics. The results provide evidence on how the public used face masks and what factors influenced their behaviours, which are of importance to China and other countries. Although a previous survey explored a related issue, it included only primary school students from Wuhan (Chen et al., 2020). Our study included diverse participants, who were not health care providers. We disseminated the best evidence regarding mask-wearing and educated participants while performing the survey, which may benefit the public.

However, this study has some limitations. First, this study used social media as the main method to disseminate the survey. Participants without access to the internet were probably not included. Second, the distribution of the study participants was imbalanced across regions (n=341–3447); therefore, the subgroups of variables might not be representative of the population. Third, this study could not determine how many participants reviewed the online poster or survey but decided not to complete the survey; thus, the presence of non-response bias could not be assessed. Finally, as the behaviours were self-reported, reporting bias was possible. Overall, generalisation of the results should be regarded with caution.

Due to the highly contagious characteristics of COVID-19 and the continued severe situation globally, mask-wearing has become a part of our ordinary lives. Understanding how the public use face masks and what factors are associated with good compliance will be useful in identifying ways to promote correct mask-wearing behaviours.

Our results revealed that, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, nearly all people wore face mask and most of them used it properly; however, there remain some aspects that require further promotion. Hand hygiene before and during mask-wearing should be particularly emphasized in future evidence dissemination or behaviour-change interventions; moreover, choosing appropriate types of face masks, reusing disposal face masks, and disposing of used face masks also cannot be neglected. Taking measures to inform as many people as possible plays a critical role in promoting public mask-wearing behaviours. When disseminating evidence, therefore, different influencing factors should be considered to cover different populations. A variety of approaches should be adopted to deliver government warnings and alerts explicitly and ubiquitously. Social media is the most powerful approach to reach audiences and facilitate data collection; however, further studies on how social media could promote behaviour change in public are warranted.

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.

Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said Americans should wear the most protective mask they can, but stopped short of recommending an N95 or similar face covering. read more

These masks and their international counterparts known as KN95s and KF94s are often made of multiple layers of polypropylene, a synthetic fiber. They are designed to achieve a very snug facial fit, with straps that go around the back of the head and edges that form a tight seal around the nose and mouth.

N95 respirators worn correctly are designed to filter out at least 95% of particulate matter in the air, preventing anything larger than .3 microns from passing through.

KN95s and KF94s are certified in China and South Korea, respectively, and offer similar protection to N95 masks. KF stands for "Korean filter" and indicates 94% filtration.

"The best masks are some version of N95," said Eric Toner, senior scientist of environmental health and engineering at Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. "N95s, KN95s and KF94s are functionally equivalent."

The CDC lists manufacturers of authorized N95 masks on its agency website. Masks should have a printed logo of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and an approval number.

The CDC said a NIOSH-approved N95 provides the most protection. Well-fitting surgical masks and KN95 masks offer the next best protection, followed by cloth masks with multiple layers. Loosely woven cloth masks are the least effective but can provide an additional layer of protection when worn over a surgical mask.

The CDC said masks are meant for single-use but can be used more than once when there is a shortage. The agency says N95s should not be used more than 5 times.

Dr. Gregory Poland, infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic, said when a mask becomes wet from exhalation or sweat, its efficacy decreases and advised rotating masks by day.

"The best possible protection is being vaccinated and boosted, wearing an N95 or KN95. If that"s not possible, double the surgical mask," Poland said.

"If that"s not possible, a surgical or cloth mask with a face shield. If that"s not possible, then as many layers of a cloth mask as you can wear," Poland continued, adding, "If that"s not possible, then you"re just playing Russian roulette."

Editor’s Note (4/19/22): This article is being republished in light of a recent ruling by Florida federal judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle striking down a federal mask mandate on airplanes and public transit. The article includes information on how to find masks that protect the wearer from infection even when others are not wearing a mask.

A wealth of evidence has shown that wearing a face mask helps prevent people from spreading the virus that causes COVID, SARS-CoV-2, to others and from becoming sick themselves. But there has been less guidance from public health officials on what kind of masks provide the best protection.

Early on in the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization told the public not to wear N95 respirators, a type of mask that is made from high-tech synthetic fibers and provides a high level of protection against virus-laden airborne particles called aerosols. That was because there was then a shortage of such masks—and health care workers desperately needed them. At the same time, both agencies said there was little risk of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. They recommended cloth masks or other homemade face coverings that can stop some relatively large virus-carrying droplets even as it became clear that SARS-CoV-2 commonly spreads through aerosols—and as the supply of better-quality masks increased.

There is now a cornucopia of high-filtration respirator-style masks on the market, including N95s, Chinese-made KN95s and South Korean–made KF94s. They have been widely available and relatively affordable for months and provide better protection than cloth or surgical masks. Yet it was not until September 10 that the CDC finally updated its guidance to say the general public could wear N95s and other medical-grade masks now that they are in sufficient supply.

Still, however, the “CDC continues to recommend that N95 respirators should be prioritized for protection against COVID-19 in healthcare settings,” wrote CDC spokesperson Jade Fulce inan e-mail to Scientific American last week. “Essential workers and workers who routinely wore respirators before the pandemic should continue wearing N95 respirators,” she continued. “As N95s become more available they can be worn in non-healthcare settings, however, cloth masks are an acceptable and recommended option for masking.”

The agency announced in May that supplies of approved respirator masks had “increasedsignificantly.” When asked why it only updated it guidance on N95 use by the public in September, Fulce replied that the “CDC regularly reviews and updates its guidance as more information becomes available.”

Scientific American spoke with several experts on aerosol transmission—some of whom have tested various masks available on the market—and they agree that health authorities should strongly recommend people wear well-fitted, high-filtration masks.

“A year ago we could say that we were concerned about shortages for health care workers, so we were telling people to make your cloth mask, and any mask is better than no mask,” says Linsey Marr, an environmental engineer and aerosol science expert at Virginia Tech. But given what scientists know now—especially with the virus’s highly transmissible Delta variant spreading and people spending more time indoors in schools, for example—“I think the CDC should be recommending high-performance masks for everyone when they’re in these risky indoor situations,” she says.

When it comes to mask effectiveness, the most important parameters are filtration, fit and comfort. Filtration generally refers to the percentage of particles the mask material blocks. For example, an N95 filters at least 95 percent of airborne particles. But that does little good if gaps around the mask let air in freely. A well-fitted mask should sit snugly against the face and over the chin, with no gaps around the nose or mouth. Comfort is also an extremely important metric: a mask does no good if people simply find it intolerable to wear.

A good mask is “the most important defense we have” against COVID, says aerosol expert Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist at the University of California, San Diego.

There are a number of national standards for respirator quality. The U.S. gold standard, N95s, are certified by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). And the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for how they have to fit people in work settings (such as in hospitals). But there is no official standard for N95 use by the general public. The European equivalent of the N95 is the FFP2 respirator, which filters at least 94 percent of particles. China has the KN95, and South Korea has the KF94. All provide excellent filtration, so it really comes down to which fits an individual best and is most comfortable.

In the absence of more specific guidance from health authorities such as the CDC as to which brands of respirators and other masks provide the best protection, some skilled amateurs have stepped in to fill the gap. Aaron Collins, aka “Mask Nerd,” is a mechanical engineer at Seagate Technology with a background in aerosol science. In his free time, he makes YouTube videos in which he tests and reviews high-filtration masks made by various manufacturers. Collins says he does not earn any money from mask manufacturers or his videos themselves—he considers them a service and wants them to be objective.

Collins has a mask-testing setup in his bathroom, where he assesses masks’ filtration efficiency by generating aerosols of sodium chloride (salt). He then uses a condensation particle counter—a device that measures the concentration of particles inside and outside a mask he is wearing—to determine the total inward leakage through and around the mask. (For comparison, NIOSH’s N95 standard requires manufacturers to measure leakage through the respirator material itself. And OSHA measures how a respirator fits on someone’s face, which often involves wearing an N95 in an enclosed space with saccharin or another distinctly flavored test aerosol sprayed in: if the wearer reports tasting the substance, the mask fails the fit test.)

Collins also tests “pressure drop,” which is basically how easy it is to breathe while wearing a mask. If doing so is too difficult, a wearer might not only find the mask less comfortable but also suck in air around its sides, negating its filtration. Some cloth masks—including those outfitted with coffee filters—have this problem. “There’s a reason N95s aren’t made from cloth,” Collins says.

The Mask Nerd’s top picks can be found in this video. In general, he recommends KN95s made by Chinese company Powecom and others, a variety of KF94s such as the Bluna FaceFit and N95s made by reputable brands such as 3M, Moldex or Honeywell. All of these masks had close to 99 percent filtration efficiencies and fairly low pressure drops in Collins’s setup. (For comparison, he found that a surgical mask alone had between about 50 and 75 percent filtration efficiency, depending on the fit, and a good cloth mask had about 70 percent.) But when choosing the best mask, comfort should be a deciding factor, he says. Not everyone needs to wear an N95.

“To me, the minimum I want to see people wear is a KN95 or KF94 with the Delta variant,” Collins says. “I don’t think surgical masks are good enough anymore, and we should’ve gotten rid of cloth masks last summer—they’re not even in the spectrum” of good filtration. (To be clear, some studies have found that surgical and cloth masks can provide at least some protection against COVID. A recent large, randomized study in Bangladesh found that surgical masks significantly lowered the risk of infection; cloth masks did not have a measurable benefit, although other studies suggest they provide some protection.)

With children starting school in-person, many parents are understandably worried about their kids, especially those who are too young to be eligible for vaccination—and particularly in states where politicians have tried to ban mask mandates in schools. These parents might find Collins’s recommendations for high-filtration kids’ masks particularly helpful. There is no N95 standard for children, but plenty of manufacturers make KF94 or KN95 masks for them. Such masks are designed for small faces and are easy to put on. Collins sees no reason why kids could not tolerate them. “I have my own son,” Collins says. “He’s five years old. He wore them all summer.”

An issue with commercially available high-filtration masks is that they may not come from reputable suppliers. The CDC’s Web site warns that about 60 percent of KN95 respirators available in the U.S. are counterfeit. To find ones that are legitimate, Prather recommends the Web site Project N95. Masks can also be ordered directly from suppliers such as Bona Fide Masks, which sells KN95s made by Powecom. “That’s the one people swear by,” Prather says. They cost around $1 each. DemeTECH sells N95s for around $4 apiece, as well as other types of masks.

One reason people may be reluctant to use KN95s and similar masks is because they are usually considered disposable. But several experts say they can in fact be worn multiple times. “You can probably reuse it until it becomes visibly damaged or soiled,” Marr says. Collins’s amateur testing suggests mask can be used for up 40 hours with no decrease in their filtration efficacy (he recommends using them within six months of opening a package). The virus likely does not survive long on these masks, but it is not a bad idea to have a few in rotation, reusing one every three days or so, Collins says.

One popular way to increase effectiveness is to wear a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask. This strategy, which the CDC has recommended, combines the filtration efficiency of the surgical mask material with the fit of a cloth mask. But how well does it actually work?

According to Collins, pretty well. He measured a filtration efficiency of upward of 90 percent for a cloth mask (with nose wire) over a surgical mask. But the pressure drop was almost twice as high as that of an N95. One reason the CDC and others have recommended against the use of N95s by the general public, apart from their previous scarcity, is that they can be difficult to breathe through—so Collins finds it “baffling” that the CDC would recommend double masking. “So does double masking work? Yes, but … I think there are better solutions,” he said in one of his videos.

Another way to get a better fit is to use masks with straps that go around the back of the head or to use a mask brace if one only has access to a surgical mask.

Not all experts agree that high-filtration masks are necessary for everyone. “What I usually say is ‘The best mask is the one you wear properly,’” says Judith Flores, a pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and of the New York Academy of Medicine. Flores believes surgical masks are the most convenient and cleanest option if they are discarded after each use. Cloth masks are okay, too, she adds, as long as they have three layers. “Unless you are a health care worker or home care worker tending to a person who is COVID-positive,” Flores says, “you don’t need an N95.”

What about the bewhiskered among us? How does facial hair influence the effectiveness of various masks? While there are not a great deal of data on this, some research suggests that the longer a person’s beard or mustache is, the less effective a mask will be because it makes an inferior seal with the face. The CDC has released a somewhat amusing graphic demonstrating styles of facial hair that are appropriate to wear with a respirator.

At this point in the pandemic, with supplies of high-quality masks readily available in many areas, perhaps it is time to ditch loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks for something that provides better protection. “The most important layer of protection,” Prather says, “is to never let the virus get out in the air in the first place.”

Spike Chunsoft"s Mature Visual Novel YU-NO Is Coming To Switch In Europe And Australia Nintendo Life More western territories confirmed by Share: Numskull Games has revealed that it will be teaming up with Japanese developer and publisher Spike Chunsoft once more to release on Nintendo Switch in Europe and Australia. Earlier this year, with no mention of a European or Australian launch. Thankfully, that announcement has now arrived - it"ll be arriving in both regions on 4th October, just three days after the planned NA launch. If you"re not clued up on this one, make sure to check out the official info and trailer down below: During his vacation from Sakaimachi Academy, Takuya Arima receives a package from his supposedly deceased father. It contains the mysterious Reflector Device, which allows the user to travel between parallel worlds. With help from his friends, teachers, and lovers, Takuya must unearth the mystery of his father"s legacy to prevent a calamity threatening to envelop reality itself. - The Power of the Reflector - Explore multiple timelines and revisit events through the unique gaming mechanic of the Reflector Device. This allows you to explore every timeline in detail. Activate the Reflector Device’s Auto Divergence Map System to return to an event with more knowledge and new items. -Your Father"s Clues - Solve all the mysteries of Sakaimachi to uncover the real secrets lying beneath Sword Cape. Collect items from one timeline and use them in the next to unlock Sword Cape"s hidden

truth. -Love Beyond Worlds - Can you find the hidden world waiting beyond Sakaimachi? Fall in love with every character to reach the true ending to this 40+ hour visual novel. on That 4th October release will see the game arrive both physically and digitally, which is very nice to hear indeed. What do you think? Does this look like it could be your type of game? Tell us in the usual place. Related Games Share: About Ryan can list the first 151 Pokémon all in order off by heart – a feat he calls his ‘party trick’ despite being such an introvert that he’d never be found anywhere near a party. He’d much rather just have a night in with Mario Kart and a pizza, and we can’t say we blame him. Comments ) Something is catching my eye at least, but its not the story ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) What a catchy name for a game. Straight translate through google yes? I"m quite interested in getting the european retail edition, wonder when pre-orders will go live. It reminds me of "Time Hollow" on the DS. Good to know. Should be cheaper than importing from the US. Definitely grabbing this one, looking forward to it. i actually started watching the dub of this anime a month or so ago,..save yourself the money, watch the show online lol. Interesting. Heard to American release is censored, so this will probally be too, but will pick it up if I find it cheap later. A mature visual novel? Sweet, now to wait for people to whine and complain in the replies It"s been almost 3 hours, I don"t think too many people

care, I guess. This game is originally from the 90s. It"s great, a cut above the usual VN, but this article makes it sounds like it"s new. This is also the censored version with sex scenes removed that"s been released on consoles before, also in the 90s IIRC. The full VN, not the heavily censored, child-friendly version, came out on PC about 25 years ago. You can get it easily online with the fan translation. I’m not sure I’ll be getting this .... because... YOU KNOW. I"m talking about the remake. Atleast one picture has been censored by an added sunbeam compared to the Japanese Switch version.Not really sure if I would also consider the changed cursor as censorship, but the sunbeam is bad. Solve the mystery by falling in love? Imagine if that statement was super literal to how mysteries had to be solved! Nancy Drew: “UGH, I gotta solve this case about a serial killer, and my budding relationship is LATE to dinner!!” Been watching the anime - which is airing right now - and I can say its... good but not great. It plays with some cool ideas and has some interesting scenes but it also has some serious plot holes at times. Also it"s less about time travel and more about parallel universes. In case you"re interested, the game"s name is based on the name of an American sci-fi short story, "The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World", which seems to have been popular in Japan. Leave A Comment Hold on there, you need to to post a comment... Related Articles Which version will you

choose? Gotta ban some more Blue sky blues Should you rush to get it? Adieu Joy-Cons? Title: System: Publisher: Developer: Genre: Adventure Players: 1 Release Date: Nintendo Switch.

Israel Lutete Modified 29 Sep 2022 Follow Us Comment Share Former RAW Women"s Champion Rhea Ripley Rhea Ripley sent a message to former WWE Champion AJ Styles on social media after he was attacked on Monday Night RAW. The Phenomenal One collided with Sami Zayn, and after the bout, The Judgment Day confronted him. Finn Balor urged him to join the heelish group, but he refused. As a result, they attacked him in the ring and placed a steel chair around his neck. It seemed like Balor was going to stomp the chair and shatter his friend"s neck, but he stopped midway, letting him go. The Eradicator took to Twitter to share some photos from the segment, one of which featured her holding a steel chair in place. She informed AJ Styles in the tweet that he should be grateful that he was spared.

Finn Balor is set to face Edge at WWE Extreme Rules on October 8th. This will be an "I Quit" match, which means the only way to win is to make your opponent say they quit.

Timeless Stories Logout No Results Found Get the free App now Manage notifications Popular ‍ Sports (30+) CricketCricket HomeScheduleT20 World CupT20 warm upIND vs SAENG vs PAKAUS vs ENGLegends LeagueECS T10 CroatiaWBBL 2022ECC T10SMAT 2022Bukhatir LeagueNZ T20 Tri-SeriesWomen"s Asia Cup 2022ECT10 FootballFootball HomeNewslettersSK Experts ScheduleEPLNations LeagueLa LigaLigue 1Champions LeagueFIFA WCMLS Bundesliga Serie A WWEWWE HomeNewslettersRumor RoundupRAWSmackDownResultsRosterChampionsWWE Crown Jewel 2022PPV ScheduleAEW EsportsEsports HomeMinecraftOverwatch 2RobloxGenshin ImpactFortniteGTAStreamersFree FirePUBGValorantBGMIPop CultureAnimeGaming TechWiki Guides TennisTennis HomeTennis calendarTennis Results TodayATP RankingsWTA RankingsRoger FedererRafael NadalNovak DjokovicSerena Williams MMAMMA HomeUFC NewsONE ChampionshipUFC Fight NightScheduleRankingsResultsUFC Fights TonightONE Championship ResultsONE Championship ScheduleONE Championship Rankings KabaddiKabaddi HomePKL 2022PKL SchedulePKL Points TableKabaddi Rules WikiWiki HomeMinecraft WikiNaruto WikiTikTok WikiYoutube WikiGTA WikiTerraria WikiOne Piece Wiki MoreSportsBasketballIndian FootballNFLMinecraftFormula 1NascarPop CultureCollege F