"Even if you touch the surface of the mask and do some hand hygiene, that addresses the problem." "We wish to inhibit the spray of the virus from getting to other people, and it's actually the physical barrier that's the most important rather than any concept of inactivation of the virus," he said. ![]() While acknowledging copper's antiviral properties, Schaffner told TODAY that he was "less concerned about the specific materials" masks are made of than getting more people to wear them overall. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Disease in Bethesda, Maryland, is "dubious" that copper masks are better than regular ones. (Note: The authors of the study worked at Cupron, a company that makes copper masks, and the company funded the work.)īut Dr. "(Copper) masks may significantly reduce the risk of hand or environmental contamination, and thereby subsequent infection, due to improper handling and disposal of the masks," it concluded. One 2010 study in the scientific journal PLOS One that looked at copper masks to reduce spread of influenza seems to support this idea. we may be able to short-circuit a second wave that's coming." Schmidt told TODAY that if reputable retailers start making these types of masks, it could be a "game changer." He added, "If we begin to incorporate copper masks into our strategy. Are copper masks effective against the coronavirus? Quarters, nickels and pennies all contain antimicrobial copper, he said, adding that if you're out of hand sanitizer, you can shake change around in your hand to rid get of any possible virus or bacteria.Īccording to Schmidt, many current retailers of copper masks are infusing fabrics like cotton and polyester with copper, so they still feel like normal cloth. A March study in the New England Journal of Medicine found in a laboratory setting that copper can inactivate a high concentration of the novel coronavirus within four hours. How do copper masks work?ĭecades of research shows that bacteria and viruses that land on metallic copper surfaces are killed on contact. ![]() Major retailers like Amazon and Etsy also sell copper-infused masks. And two teen brothers in Raleigh, North Carolina, started a company called CopperSAFE, which has been so popular its product is now sold out. Public health experts recommend them to prevent the wearer from spreading any illness they may be carrying unknowingly, but many mask vendors are touting methods that offer extra protection.įilters, which can minimize the virus particles that pass through the mask, have become a popular strategy, as have masks made with copper.Ī microbiologist at University of Massachusetts Amherst, Phyllis Kuhn, PhD, invented a mask made of 99.5% pure copper mesh, according to a press release from the school. More than two months into the coronavirus pandemic, wearing a cloth mask has become a way of life for many Americans.
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