Welcome to Medical Masks Plus
We are normally busy making our patented back-smoothing Shapeez bras, but given the current COVID-19 crisis and shortage of medical masks and PPE, we decided to retool our factories to make a reusable, washable, surgical type mask. Our masks prevent large droplets of bodily fluids that may contain viruses or other germs from escaping via the nose and mouth. They also protect against splashes and sprays from other people, such as those from sneezes and coughs. Made in North America.
How does our mask differ from a homemade mask?
While it is wonderful that people want to help by making homemade masks, they are generally made from regular cloth textiles such as cotton or cotton blends, which researchers say offers little protection against infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus. Manufacturers of medical masks use specialized materials made of a synthetic fiber—often polypropylene—formed into a web of fine filaments using what’s called melt-blown or spunbond technology. This non-woven polypropylene is capable of filtering out microscopic particles, which is why it’s preferred for medical-grade masks.
Our masks are made with 60gsm non-woven polypropylene as the outer layer, which provides a strong barrier with higher filtration than a cloth mask. Further, our masks are more than 2X the density (filtration) of a typical disposable surgical mask. The outer layer of our mask will REPEL outside, while the inner layer is comfortable and breathable.
A 2015 study of roughly 1,600 workers at hospitals in Vietnam found nearly 97% of particles penetrated the cloth masks, versus 44% for medical masks. Workers who wore cloth masks also had higher rates of infection than those wearing surgical masks or those in an unmasked control group, perhaps in part because the cloth masks retained moisture.