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Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Coronavirus can live on some masks for up to seven days, researcher says

TUCSON, AZ — New city and countywide mandates require many of us to wear masks in public, but researchers said it's important to treat them like a biohazard.

Professor and Department Chair of Community, Environment and Policy at the University of Arizona Public Health College Kelly Reynolds said, while in public, the virus can get on the front of the mask and live on it for several days.

"By design, the mask could really be contaminated, so we recommend that people think of their masks as a biohazard," Reynolds said.

The virus can live on surgical and N95 masks for up to seven days. Normally, they would be thrown out after one use, but a shortage in Personal Protective Equipment prevents that.

"You can’t just throw them in the washer machine -- that would destroy their fibers," Reynolds said. "For those (N95 and surgical), the best recommendation is to let the natural course of the virus dying off to run its course, so the recommendation is to take those masks and put them in a paper bag and wait seven days before you use them again."

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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seriously ?
Give me a break

Anonymous said...

Of course!!!!

Anonymous said...

It can do whatever they decide it can do to control the the people... communism via influenza

Anonymous said...

But ugly is forever.

Anonymous said...

Actually, if you leave it on for a while as you walk across a parking lot in the sun, the UV should help disinfect it.

Anonymous said...

BS

Anonymous said...

they cant even give a real test but they can tell if its there and how long it lives i dont believe it

Anonymous said...

Every day it's a different hypothesis. Medical profession is always practicing, we all should know that and understand that....rather than sticking our heads in the ground.

Or trying to change the rules because of our FEELINGS are hurt - SNOWFLAKES with huge college debt expecting to make soooo much straight outta college.

Anonymous said...

I turn my mask inside out every other day to prevent catching COVID from myself.

Anonymous said...

My god you people are lemmings.

Anonymous said...

I put my cloth masks on the dashboard when I get home and let the sun disinfect them.

Anonymous said...

In the oven at 130 degrees for 20 min.

Anonymous said...

Its a lie..sunlight kills it.so Even if i leave it on my 102 degree dash board it not sanitized BS

Anonymous said...

Lemmings!

Hilarious and totally accurate