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Why N95 masks are hard to make

npr.org

61–70 of 363 posts

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#61
post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

Stockpiling essential medical equipment sounds a lot cheaper than autarky.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#62
post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

A “superpower” who can’t seem make enough masks to protect its own medical professionals from a pandemic. It’s an interesting situation.

Rome was a "superpower" militarily but it couldn't feed itself, and had to rely on grain from Egypt and the fertile crescent to feed its population.....

Here we can't produce some basic silly things... as it is not that economical during normal times... Perhaps farming subsides are not a crazy type of idea after all.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#63
post #43
post #4

> China now makes 200 million face masks a day — more than twenty times the amount it made at the start of February. That’s an insane number of masks. Does one in seven Chinese wear a fresh one every day ? Is this gonna be the new normal?

Only 600,000 of those are N95 standard, suitable for health care and using the special fabric in short supply. Mask wear in Asia is common, for smog, smoke and controlling flu. The cheap ones don't last long, and often replaced instead of put through the wash. Common mask usage requires use of cheaper, more comfortable masks rather than the health care certified ones.

I would wear an N95 mask sometimes in Asia, to mitigate the pollution. I didn't throw it away after each use. I imagine their use by medical professionals to be a much different case though.

I think a lot of Asian people wore the cheap cloth ones. I have learned recently that these sometimes have replaceable inserts inside them.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#64
post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

Does one of the n95 cotton candy machines even exist in the US? I would love to see the specs for them made free and open so anyone could attempt to produce one and then have it vetted. Contributing to e.g. firmware code for the thing is like the only meaningful thing I could put my skills towards in this epidemic. It would be an honor to do so.

The article mentions this Florida company as one of the suppliers of such machines. They have a reasonably informative website. http://www.hillsinc.net

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#65
post #26

"Currently, of the 200 million masks China makes a day, only 600,000 are N95 standard masks, used by medical personnel, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, a state planning body. " Wow, that is not enough.

There is quite is quite a bit of information readily available about sterilizing disposable N95 masks with UV-C light. While not nearly as good as a fresh mask, this might be a preferable alternative to reusing the same mask unsterilized.

https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pd...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/

https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disi...

The UV light needs to have a wavelength around 260nm (shorter wavelength than standard UV light). Such UVC lamps are cheap and readily available, commonly used in consumer products for aquarium water sterilization and air purification. Example replacement bulb: GermGuardian LB4000 GENUINE UV-C Replacement Bulb for AC4300BPTCA, AC4825, AC4850PT & AC4900CA Germ Guardian Air Purifiers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055522F6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4D...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#66
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's false and you are wrong and are posting dangerous misinformation that is harming society. If I am infected it protects others. If I am not infected it protects me.

Surgical masks are protecting patients not doctors. Please educate yourself. "The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus and a surgical mask does not protect you from that kind of virus,” he said. “In fact, when people buy up these masks and hoard these masks then they might not be available for healthcare providers to use for patient care.” He said surgical masks are more effective on people who are already infec…

> The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus

I thought it was a lower respiratory virus. I have no idea if that changes the efficacy of masks but...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#67
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's false and you are wrong and are posting dangerous misinformation that is harming society. If I am infected it protects others. If I am not infected it protects me.

Surgical masks are protecting patients not doctors. Please educate yourself. "The coronavirus is an upper respiratory virus and a surgical mask does not protect you from that kind of virus,” he said. “In fact, when people buy up these masks and hoard these masks then they might not be available for healthcare providers to use for patient care.” He said surgical masks are more effective on people who are already infec…

https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/surgical-mas...

>“Yes, a surgical mask can help prevent the flu,” Sherif Mossad, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells Health. “Flu is carried in air droplets, so a mask would mechanically prevent the flu virus from reaching other people.” It would work both ways, says Dr. Mossad, preventing transmission of the flu virus to others and for keeping a mask-wearer from picking up an infection.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#68
post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

No country has the manufacturing base to meet the demand for these masks under a pandemic, not even China. That’s what the article is all about. Your thoughts on the merits of trade wars are not applicable.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#69
post #44
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Thats basically a misinformation. They are completely useless, and if you dont change them each 40-50 minutes - bring you more damage then good Evidence required. If mist forms on my glasses from breathing, I assume the mask must be doing something. I read a comment the other day on how many efforts are impeded by the "quest for perfection" I know such homemade masks are not 100% proof. But even if they only work t…

>I know such homemade masks are not 100% proof. But even if they only work to reduce 10% of the risks if everybody wore them, than can be the difference between a R0 of 1.1 and 1.0 - and gives great results overall. There's a psychological component to this. If a mask reduces the chance of infection (from daily contact) from 60% (random number) to 54%, I'm not going to bother, even though in aggregate it might make a…

Your math assumes you are the only person using masks and have daily exposure.

It breaks down when people are in isolation, which many of us now are. You are not out daily, so a 50% reduction is a 50% reduction, and with luck you never accumulate enough to get sick.

If everyone wore masks, then every ones daily exposure would drop dramatically. You get 50% less intake, and infected people are emitting much less too. You have pretty much eliminated air born transmission, and can now focus on hands and eyes.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#70

I made a dozen good homemade masks in a few hours, and I am inept at sewing. With some practice I could make 200 a day. There's no point to doing so, it would be illegal for me to sell them. US is doing nothing whatsoever to ramp up mask or ventilator production. It's going to result in a lot of deaths.

The article says about masks, that cannot be made en masse. This is due to a flu, which will likely flow through, your fabric and not meltblown pads.

The virus is carried in tiny droplets in the air, usually from a cough or sneeze. Any mask that catches those helps prevent virus spread to and from you. So literally a bandana covering your face is going to prevent some. Of course it won't be as effective as a legit N95 or N99 mask, maybe it's only 10% as effective, but that is not the same as being totally ineffective.

Further, any form of masks provides a psychological aid to help people stop touching their face.

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