masks

Apple will no longer require corporate employees to wear masks at "most locations," according to an internal email from the company's COVID-19 response team seen by The Verge. "We are writing to share an update to our current protocols," the email reads. "In light of current circumstances, wearing a face mask will no longer be required in most locations." The company goes on to say that employees can, of course, continue to wear them if they prefer. "We recognize that everyone’s personal circumstances are different. Don’t…

Apple has this week told employees that it is dropping the company's corporate mask mandate at most of its locations. Apple has gone back and forth over requiring its Apple store employees to wear masks, most recently reinstating a mandate for employees at about 100 U.S. retail stores in May. According to a report from The Verge Monday, Apple is now dropping its mask mandate for corporate employees at "most locations", possibly including offices like Apple Park although the report doesn't specify. Mask offAn email from…

The COVID-19 pandemic is by no means over, but as time goes on, scientists are learning more and more about the virus – and the various ways that we can protect against it, including new and improved face masks.  A new membrane-based respiratory mask developed by researchers can capture and deactivate SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins as it comes into contact with them. These spike proteins are what allow the virus to enter host cells once they're in the body.As per tests, almost 99 percent of targeted airborne particles can be…

Researchers have developed antiviral N95 masks that can potentially be worn longer, reducing waste.The research team utilized accessible and affordable equipment to improve N95 masks and cut wasteResearchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a practical method for producing N95 face masks that are both excellent germ barriers and on-contact germ killers. The antiviral and antibacterial masks may be worn for longer periods of time, which would result in less plastic waste as the masks would not need to be…

High-quality masks called respirators, such as N95s and KN95s, offer strong protection against the spread of COVID-19. But when it comes to comfort and convenience, there is certainly room for improvement. Masks fog up glasses. Wearing them for hours at a time can get sweaty and uncomfortable (especially in humid summer heat). Efficacy can vary a lot between brands. And when people cover half their face, it’s harder to read facial expressions and interact socially. This week a project called the Mask Innovation Challenge…

The union government is concerned about the sharp spike in covid cases, with new reported cases on Monday doubling to more than 4,500 in the last 24 hours, bringing the active case load to 25,000, the highest in nearly three months. The health ministry has asked states with the highest number of active cases —Maharashtra (6,767), Karnataka (2,414), Kerala (8,835), Delhi (1,445), Uttar Pradesh (892) and Telangana (500)—to take measures to control the surge.…

Alameda County became the first in the Bay Area and perhaps the state to reimpose a requirement for people to wear face masks in most indoor settings starting Friday as rising COVID-19 cases from new omicron variants push hospitalizations to levels that alarmed local health officials. Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss issued an order that goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday that will require people to wear masks in offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers,…

Apple is delaying moving forward on its hybrid return to work for office employees, saying in a memo (reported earlier by Bloomberg) that “we are extending the phase-in period of the pilot and maintaining two days a week in the office for the time being.” For those who are in the current two-day-per-week pilot, Apple said that if they feel uncomfortable coming into the office, they will again have the option to work remotely. The company’s COVID-19 response team said that its updates are based on monitoring local info…

Over the past couple of years, disposable face masks have become a very plentiful form of garbage. There may actually be a use for them, however, as recent research shows that they could strengthen concrete when added to it.Previous studies have indicated that concrete is less prone to crack when tiny reinforcing fibers are mixed into it before it's poured. With that fact in mind, scientists at Washington State University wondered if the polypropylene or polyester fabric in discarded face masks could be a source of those…