VIRUCIDAL FUNCTIONALITY IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

It is a practical and underestimated problem for the wearers of medical masks to not contaminate
themselves while (unconsciously) touching their mask. For example, this may be during the period that
they wear it and/or when they remove it. A study by the SHEA (The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
of America) found that 21% of healthcare workers tested positive for skin contamination for respiratory
viruses after working in acute care. Incidentally, 21% of coats and 12% of face masks also tested positive
for virus contamination.

In addition to this potential contamination rate, other studies showed that human error was a substantial
cause of contamination. For example, nearly 40% of healthcare staff made errors in touching the front of
their masks before removing them. Less trained and experienced staff outside the acute care setting are
also exposed to COVID-19 infected patients in this pandemic situation, which unknowingly increases the
risk of infection as healthcare workers must use a face mask all the time. The virucidal functionality
deactivates viruses that have landed on the mask, thus eliminating the risk of contamination through
accidental manipulation or cross-contamination.

VIRUCIDAL FUNCTIONALITY IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

Different studies show that on board transmissions can still happen. In a Harvard report that is sponsored
by different airlines, aircraft manufacturers and airport operators is stated that the High Efficiency
Particulate Air (HEPA) filters remove the bacteria and viruses in the modern planes ventilation systems. In
this report, they explain that the released contaminants in such events are fully flushed from the cabin in
as little as two to five minutes, as opposed to some six hours in commercial or retail spaces. There are
very few similar examples of proven in-flight transmission, but more concerning is a study of a flight into
Ireland last summer after which 13 passengers tested positive for Covid-19. A study by researchers from
Ireland’s public health department found that mask-wearing was widely observed on board the seven-
hour flight, which was only 17 per cent full.

Mask-wearing on-board is already widely observed, although many passengers’ don’t cover their noses
well enough. Although some of the passengers might have been exposed during overnight transfer stops
or in lounges before the flight, on-board transmission appeared to be possible. But what if someone
coughs or sneezes in a plane and the face masks doesn’t protect well enough? This very dangerous as the
regular face masks like (community) masks from Asian manufacturers or reusable masks don’t filter all the
aerosols that could possibly be contaminated.

We should also be worried about the proximity to infected people at the airport, like for example in
immigration queues or getting on and off the plane. A big issue is getting on and off the aircraft, as the
Harvard study recommends airlines strictly control boarding and leaving the plane. It is still too busy and
chaotic when passengers are getting on and off the plane, because they cross each other very near and
unconsciously come into contact with each other. The passport control could also be another risk factor
for possible contamination. It is as a consequence also what happens before and after that are the real
problems.

But does the HEPA filter provides enough protection? What if you could eliminate the possible contaminants that spread by using a virucidal face masks additionally? We provide the first global solution for this with our virucidal face masks. The virucidal functionality has the purpose of deactivating viruses which have landed on the mask by reducing the risk of contamination due to accidental manipulation or cross contamination. If the potentially contaminated aerosols are spreading through the cabin in case that someone for example sneezes, it means that the contaminated virus droplets could also settle on the mask.

On top of this potential contamination rate, other studies showed human error was a substantial cause of contamination. The major issue for spreading the virus for people who wear a mask in a plane or even at the airport is that they touch their masks too often with their hands. It is a concern for face masks wearers to not self-contaminate while manipulating their facemask during the period they wear it and/or when they remove it by touching the front of their PPE. Masks are as a result highly positive for virus contamination. This because people still come unknowingly into contact with surfaces that may be infected and afterwards, they come in contact with his mouth mask that can cause a direct infection of the passenger.

To guarantee the quality and safety in the aviation industry, we propose to distribute these specific masksamong the passengers at the gate before entering the plane. This will be the only way for the airlineindustry to ensure the protection of the people in the plane and the passenger self.