NEW research has found that dry heat from an electric cooker can effectively sanitize N95 masks.
A key part of the world’s effort to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 is the use of PPE.
Covid-19 typically spreads when a person expels droplets carrying the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, from their mouth or nose.
If the droplets come into contact with another person, there is a chance that they will gain access to their respiratory tract, where the virus will infect cells to cause disease.
PPE can take the form of gowns, visors, gloves, and masks. It forms a barrier between people and is crucial for care workers and clinical staff who may be in close contact with people with SARS-CoV-2.
The sudden emergence and rapid spread of the new coronavirus have created a huge demand for PPE. This demand has, in many cases, outstripped supply. This means that many carers and clinical staff who need the equipment are having to make do with substandard products or without any PPE at all.
In the new study, the researchers had five conditions for an effective decontamination process:
1. It should kill a variety of viruses.
2. It should not negatively affect the respirator’s filtration ability.
3. It should still let the respirator maintain a tight fit against a person’s face.
4. It should not leave harmful chemicals on the respirator.
5. The process should be easily accessible.
“There are many different ways to sterilize something, but most of them will destroy the filtration or the fit of an N95 respirator.”
BIPOLAR DRUG SHOWS PROMISE AND OTHER HOPEFUL FINDINGS
We continue our Hope Behind the Headlines series by exploring the most recent and most hopeful findings in the field of Covid-19 research.
Hopefully, the Covid-19 pandemic will not last forever. Every 2 weeks, we round up the recently published evidence that reminds us of this. In our last installment, we reported on a vaccine candidate that showed promise in monkeys and a new trial that tested an existing drug, among other innovations.
In this feature, we discover another existing drug that could treat the infection. We also learn about T cells and how a new blood test could speed up vaccine development and mass screening. Furthermore, we zoom in on a class of immune-modifying drugs that may be the most effective treatment for severe forms of the disease.
