Rep. Lori Trahan, Sen. Bernie Sanders reintroduce Masks for All Act to get Americans N95 masks

[Uncle Joe]

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts on Wednesday partnered with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and dozens of Democrats to reintroduce a plan to ramp up production of protective N95 masks and get at least three to every American during the surge of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

More than 50 Democrats in the House and Senate have co-sponsored the Masks for All Act, which calls for a $5 billion investment to manufacture, procure and distribute the masks — including masks sized for adults and children — to households, dorms, prisons, and homeless shelters, as well as much-needed masks for workers in health settings.

The lawmakers said they’d push to use the Defense Production Act if necessary to bolster supply and eliminate mask shortages, while also providing free masks for pick up at post offices, pharmacies, schools and testing and vaccination sites.

(snip)

The White House COVID-19 task force, in a news conference Wednesday, said the Biden administration was “strongly considering options to make more high quality masks available to Americans.”

(snip)

https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2022/01/rep-lori-trahan-sen-bernie-sanders-reintroduce-masks-for-all-act-to-get-americans-n95-masks.html

[BigmanPigman]

1. I heard that the mask making companies chose to

stop producing as many masks as needed since they thought they wouldn't be needed since Delta was dwindling and vaxxes were available. The govt and these companies need to step up production ASAP. This was on CNN or MSNBC where it was being discussed earlier.

[Pachamama]

3. They are producing these masks by the millions in Europe.

Including in many colors…

I don’t buy the excuse that they can’t produce these quickly - or that the US never saw this coming.

Germany prohibited the cloth masks early on and only surgical masks and FFP2 (N95) masks were permitted indoors, planes, work etc.

Plenty available since over 18 months.

[BigmanPigman]

5. Did the govt or the manufacturers drop the ball?

I bet if N95s had colors and patterns more people, including kids, would wear them. I didn't buy any and recycled the N95s I had for almost 2 years. That should not be the norm. There should be plenty of them for everyone by now. So frustrating!

[Pachamama]

6. I think it was both

And the FFP2 masks are actually not uncomfortable like the ones here.

Ear loops with soft material and also I feel like I can breathe through them. They fit well too.

Sometimes I joke that the white ones look like coffee filters - at least colored (black, grey, navy etc) they look better.

[BigmanPigman]

7. What do the FFP2 masks look like?

I am a visual person.

[Pachamama]

2. Germany sent all its residents and citizens FFP2 (N95 masks) last year

I believe we received 3-4 per person in the household.

It is also now law that in every medical 1st aid kit required by law in every vehicle, also now contains the masks.

[George II]

4. "Reintroduce"?

[radius777]

8. Most people won't wear N95's as they

have rubber bands and grip tightly onto the face/nose and while they offer the highest protection they are uncomfortable for typical usage. They are best for medical professionals and others who are under high risk for exposure.

The best balance of protection and comfort are the KN95's and KF94's, which have similar filtration material to N95's but a more comfortable shape and earloops. Of course part of the discomfort of the N95's double head bands is to ensure a tight seal. Having a good fit thus is important in any mask to minimize leakage.

The cloth ones are not great, they lack the ability to filter viral particles and often fit too loose. Surgical masks are ok but they need to be of medical grade quality.

https://www.aerosol.mech.ubc.ca/what-size-particle-is-important-to-transmission/

Fit and filtration is the key to proper masking which many (most?) people don't apply properly.

[George II]

9. This was already on Biden's list of things to do, and he's doing it.