Low-cost, Reusable, Fabric Mask with Virus Trapping and Inactivation Properties

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The Coronavirus associated with the Covid-19 pandemic appears to be extremely contagious, forcing all health and care workers to take considerable precautions against being infected or passing the virus on. This has resulted in a huge demand for single-use Personal Protection Equipment, (PPE), particularly Face Masks. Such high demands from global healthcare systems are outstretching supply chains, leaving the general public unable to source suitable masks for their own use. This is particularly bad for the huge number of elderly and at-risk individuals who do not have access to appropriate PPE, effectively leaving them socially isolated until a vaccination becomes available.Hothouse Medical aims to demonstrate feasibility of a low-cost, fabric mask with virus trapping and inactivation properties. A key differentiator between alternative masks with active sanitization properties is that our technology is expected to tolerate multiple, repeat, high temperature laundry cycles, thus creating a truly re-usable item.Evaluations will confirm if such a mask technology can tolerate repeated high temperature washing whilst maintaining the ability to trap and inactivate Coronaviruses.