Spring Zhou, University of Wollongong and Tava Olsen, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
During COVID, rich countries have used masks and gloves from their medical stockpiles. But not all countries are so fortunate. We found the best way to help. It may not be what you think.
Billions of face masks and other personal protective equipment have been used throughout the pandemic. Containing plastic, these items are damaging wildlife and their environments.
Engineering students in Malawi and Tanzania have used the materials and tools available to them to build ventilators, personal protective equipment and UV disinfection systems.
Food safety agencies have assessed the risk of acquiring COVID-19 from contaminated food or food packaging. They found that currently, there’s no evidence that the virus is a food safety risk.
Whether it’s health-care workers, kids in school or people running errands, Canadians need face masks during COVID-19. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be made here at home.
Everything you need to know about non-woven polypropylene, the fabric now recommended for use as a filter in cloth face masks: What it is, what to look for and where to find it.
Widely adopted in the US when pandemic precautions kept people home, telehealth faces a challenge as insurance coverage changes, right when its popularity had surged.
As we stare down a second wave of COVID-19, there are far better alternatives to prevent shortages and ensure adequate supply of medical goods than trade restrictions.
Health-care workers’ access to personal protective equipment, along with appropriate infection control procedures, affected their mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lessons from history make clear that the federal government can spur medical innovation in a crisis, including this pandemic. Providing certainty and clarity is critical.
The global pandemic has fueled illicit online sales of COVID-19 commodities, some of which are dangerous or illegal. Researchers are assessing the size and reach of this underground market.
Pandemic precautions have given new life to disposable plastic products, which the industry claims are more ‘hygienic’ than reusables. But critics say there’s no scientific evidence this is so.
The US may want to rethink its anti-China policy as Beijing’s focus on providing international coronavirus aid and digital and health care investments seems to be working.
Testing healthcare workers can play a role in preventing new infections, but is a highly limited strategy and shouldn’t distract from other, more helpful measures.