Free N95 Masks Coming Soon To A Drugstore Near You

The Biden administration is expected to begin distributing a whopping 400 million free N95 masks to Americans all over the country.  The masks are coming from the Strategic National Stockpile and will be distributed via local pharmacies and community health centers.  The number of masks being distributed comprise about half of our National Stockpile.

 

Face Masks Are Getting A High Tech Upgrade : By Derek Baine

A man covering his mouth and nose with N95 Mask

Although those of us that are vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in California in most places, the medical community is working on a high-tech upgrade to masks to cope with `diagnostics, sensors and even the ability to kill viruses.  Although they have yet to be approved by the Food & Drug Administration or FDA, different models are being developed for the medical community and to be marketed to individuals.  Michael Strano, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT, has developed a mask that actually kills the virus.  “Filtering has its place, but so does just destroying the virus,” said Professor Strano.  It also comes with a thermoelectric cooler that ensures hot air that you are breathing in is comfortable.  “You actually breathe medically sterilized air,” said Stano.  The masks are reusable and will cost just a few dollars more than typical masks.  What great progress we are making on the mask front.  I hope to not be wearing one anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that the next pandemic will go more smoothly than this one.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/high-tech-face-masks-aim-to-step-up-the-fight-against-covid-19-11616846402