Protective masks can be effectively disinfected at home, study finds

Researchers conclude that homemade masks and some medical masks can withstand simple disinfection without significantly reducing their effectiveness.

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A new study has found that disinfecting homemade masks by heating them may not significantly reduce their effectiveness — and that some medical masks can undergo this process and still be effective.

The research, published in the Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection, may be valuable for reducing the pressure on stocks of medical masks during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

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