• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Friday, February 3, 2023
SLC Online News
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Omicron Spawns U.S. Search For Better Kids’ Masks, New Standard – Reuters

omicron-spawns-us.-search-for-better-kids’-masks,-new-standard-–-reuters
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

LA-based freight forwarder Tony Chen checks a kid-sized KF94 mask made in South Korea in his living room in South Pasadena, California, U.S., January 27, 2022. Picture taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

LOS ANGELES, April 8 (Reuters) – The fast-spreading Omicron variant stoked U.S. interest in better masks for children to ward off COVID-19, and that is adding fuel to an effort that could set the stage for domestic oversight of their quality.

Adult N95 masks are federally regulated and considered a gold standard. They were among the “better masks” U.S. health officials recommended in January to protect against Omicron. read more For children, no comparable U.S.-regulated mask exists, and some concerned parents turned to kid-sized masks made to South Korea’s KF94 or China’s N95 standards instead.

While many U.S. states and schools have since stopped requiring mask-wearing for COVID, disease experts say children will still need high-quality masks for everything from current and future pandemics to seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that can cause serious illness and death.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

“Every year there are opportunities for masks to make a difference – whether it’s in the classroom or in the daycare,” said Dr. Steven Krug, an emergency room physician and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Children and Disasters.

U.S. e-commerce sites are crowded with sellers offering children’s KF94 or KN95 masks. Most sites do not authenticate those products, and U.S. health agencies do not approve them –

creating fertile ground for fraudsters.

Dr. Jennifer Nayak, a University of Rochester Medical Center infectious disease specialist, told Reuters that mask shopping for her three kids on Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and other sites spurred questions, including: “Is it real vs. counterfeit? Is it going to fit?”

South Korea is considered a leader for children’s masks because it tightly enforces its KF94 standard. Its health ministry says the only genuine KF94s are made in South Korea.

Behealthyusa.net, the direct seller of made-in-South Korea BOTN KF94s in the United States, told Reuters its site sold out of many small-sized KF94 masks during the original Omicron surge.

Los Angeles-based importer Tony Chen, father of 8- and 11-year-olds, started bringing in kid-sized, made-in-South Korea KF94 masks when parents struggled to find authentic masks at affordable prices.

Parents with ties to South Korea pointed Chen to reputable children’s KF94 mask sellers there, he said. He flies masks duty-free to the United States under direct-to-consumer shipping rules that lower his cost to 47 cents to $1 each, vs. $1 to $3 on e-commerce sites.

“I’m just hoping I break even,” said Chen, who has imported about 9,000 children’s KF94s for dozens of families since Jan. 1 and plans to keep going as long as needed.

A handful of other groups also are doing leg work for parents.

Project N95 – which vets mask sellers all the way back to the factory – runs a website that offers a variety of masks for children – including KF94s from South Korea, KN95s from China, and specialty products made by legitimate N95 manufacturers in the United States.

“We do often run out,” Project N95 Executive Director Anne Miller said.

Factories produce fewer masks for children than adults, and demand for children’s sizes is increasing up to 15% per week, Miller said.

LONG ROAD TO OVERSIGHT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certifies N95 masks and inspects the facilities that make them. A move is afoot to establish a U.S. standard for high-filtration children’s masks, which could set the stage for domestic oversight.

Texas mask-maker Aegle and the University of Maryland’s Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices are designing children’s masks that filter like N95s but are optimized for kids’ smaller faces and lungs. Aegle Chief Executive Andy Moy aims to start clinical trials at Washington’s Children’s National Hospital in April.

The standard would define mask materials, measurements and filtration qualities. After that, a standards body or government agency would need to support and adopt it. A federal agency would be needed to enforce the standard, Moy said.

“Only then will parents have the assurance they need,” Moy said.

American Mask Manufacturer’s Association (AMMA) founder Lloyd Armbrust said success would require ongoing commitment and political pressure.

“These problems are totally solvable, but people have to care long enough,” Armbrust said.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by Richard Chang

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

SLC Online News

© 2021 SLC Online News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 SLC Online News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT