DIY Face Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19

This paper addresses the question of how effective Do It Yourself (DIY) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), i.e. face masks, are within the general population in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. It references studies comparing the effectiveness of various materials in DIY masks alongside surgical masks and respirators. This is associated with the Department of Defenses COVID-19 announcement for all Total Force members (military personnel, civilian employees, contractors and their family members) to wear a cloth face covering in public settings where social-physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Studies have shown that holistically given a variety of factors that are discussed in depth in this paper a single layer pillowcase or a 100% cotton t-shirt are the most suitable household materials for an improvised (DIY) face mask. This is due to their breathability, fit factor, and their ability to reduce viral particle transmission by up to 50%. In general, using any type of face mask can decrease viral transmission. However, it is important not to focus on a single intervention in the case of a pandemic, but rather to integrate all effective interventions for optimal protection.3 A DIY face mask will not completely eliminate the possibility of infection with COVID-19, particularly given that there are multiple routes of transmission. But the underlying consensus of all research suggests that DIY cloth facemasks are better than nothing at all. It is vital to note that all DIY face masks, regardless of the efficiency of their filtration or seal, will only have partial effectiveness on their own. They must be used in conjunction with other preventative measures, which include: isolation of infected individuals, immunization, maintaining healthy eating/fitness standards, cough and respiratory etiquette, and regular hand hygiene. 2,3,8,14

COVID-19 Case and Contact Investigation in an Office Workspace

This investigation report describes a case of COVID-19 in a combined military and civilian office workspace and the contact investigation and mitigation efforts that followed. This office space included an embedded public health officer who was able to conduct the contact investigation and advise on the outbreak response. Over a 3-day period, the index case unintentionally exposed 150 coworkers to SARS-CoV-2 through participation in carpools, conferences, and small meetings. Of these exposures 37 were considered medium risk at the time and 113 were considered low risk. A total of 5 contacts reported COVID-like-symptoms at the time of the investigation and another 5 developed symptoms during the14-day quarantine period and all were directed to self-isolate. None of the contacts required hospitalization and all the symptomatic contacts tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. With the advice and aid of the embedded public health officer, the office authorized telework, conducted thorough cleaning of spaces, distributed informative messaging, conducted virtual question-and-answer forums, and evaluated outbreak policies. This report demonstrates that the close integration of public health and office management can lead to rapid identification of those at risk of infection and implementation of mitigation and control efforts to stop the spread of disease.