The coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it for the foreseeable future, and this means that we are having to get used to wearing facemasks.
Unfortunately, however, these masks are preventing us from doing many of the activities that we love... like drinking cocktails.
But cocktail drinking, at least, is no longer off the menu even during a global pandemic thanks to New Orleans-based designer Ellen Macomber, who didn't want people in this famous party town to go without once lockdown restrictions are lifted.
This woman cut a hole in her facemask so that it's easier to breathe:
"We're all in New Orleans, and here in New Orleans, we like to drink," Macomber said before revealing that a friend gave her the idea for the facemasks according to Fast Company.
Within a week, she had made 40 of the masks from cotton and other embellished fabrics to retail for $30 apiece.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: ellenmacomber.com]]
Half an hour after the launch, all of the cocktails masks sold out.
"We were thinking of doing a lip appliqué, where it would flap open and close, but you'd have to touch your face. I was like, 'Well that won't work because you have to touch your mask," Macomber told Fast Company. "That's when I was like, 'Dude, we just drill a little flap, an extra layer, and you angle the straw to get in. So the hole is never completely open.'"
[[imagecaption|| Credit: ellenmacomber.com]]
She believes that the masks will be particularly useful for people who are spending large amounts of time in public places.
"Anything is better than nothing," she said. "If we're going to be handling different errands… this is just one option for one of the variety of errands you're needing to do."
However, the designer did add that she is no expert on public health and that her masks shouldn't be regarded as the best preventative measure out there.
"This is the biggest s**tshow I’ve ever encountered in my life," Macomber said. "So I'm just rolling with the punches, and trying to provide my clients with what they're asking for: a mask. This is my take on it."
During the coronavirus pandemic, there have been various measures put in place to ensure that people obey the rules of social distancing and avoid unnecessary physical contact. Some of these measures have worked, while others have been less successful.
Sadly, I'm sure many of us have experienced first-hand what it is like to be shopping or exercising, only to have somebody else selfishly ignore the guidelines and brush past us.
But now a mom has gone viral on social media this week for her novel and naughty solution to the problem after she wore facemasks adorned with tiny penises, vaginas, and breasts in order to keep people - and germs - away.
Related - Recently this doctor shared some breathing tips for surviving the coronavirus:
According to the New York Post, Mindy Vincent, who hails from Utah, came up with the concept of selling the NSFW masks to raise money for the Utah Harm Reduction Coalition. Mindy's non-profit organization protects people at high-risk of contracting COVID-19, such as drug-users and people who are HIV or Hep C positive.
Earlier this week, Mindy took to Facebook to share some pictures of her NSFW masks, writing: "Behold! My masks have arrived! I wore this to Walmart and Petco today. When someone tells me my mask has penises on it, I kindly let them know this is how I determine they are too close, kindly back the f*ck up."
She continued: "We provide syringe exchange services, and we serve the most vulnerable people, and we can’t not serve them especially during some kind of pandemic. So I needed some kind of face protection for my staff."
In a later post, she added: "I’m so overwhelmed by the response and how many people have shared my post ...So many people just don’t have a very good sense of humor these days. and I just love that there are 150,000 people in the world that would also be willing to wear d*cks on their faces."
So if you'd like to buy one of Mindy's rude masks, which she's named 'C**k-Block Corona Masks', then you can do so by shooting over to her website and buying them for just $20 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the lives of people all over the world, the role that face masks have to play in limiting the spread of the virus has become more and more prominent.
Face coverings are now mandatory in certain settings in some countries. For instance, in the United Kingdom, where citizens are required to wear them in shops and on public transport, among other settings.
And in the US, many supermarkets and establishments like Walmart require all of their customers to don protective face coverings prior to entering.
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It is true that we're all adjusting to a new semblance of normalcy at the moment, yet it is vital that in the process of doing so we don't overlook those for whom adapting to coronavirus safety measures might be more challenging.
Earlier this year, we brought you the story of doctors and healthcare workers who came up with a wonderful idea to help patients feel more at ease while being treated in hospital in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Due to the necessary PPE healthcare workers wear while treating patients with COVID-19, their faces are mostly obscured. And so, the idea of doctors and nurses putting pictures of their faces on their PPE so patients can see who they are being treated by was born.
However, back in 2017, a group of John Hopkins University students had already anticipated this issue, and thus, created a product that has proven to be particularly prescient during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ClearMask™ is the "first fully transparent, FDA-cleared surgical mask," which provides clarity of communication and a human connection for all.
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This level of communication is vital in medical settings. Dr. Zachary Featherstone explains on the ClearMask website the value of transparent face masks for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
Featherstone says:
"By wearing a standard surgical mask, we’re immediately placing a communication barrier between ourselves and our patients, especially those who rely heavily on visual communication, including deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
"The masks block visual cues—including facial expressions, lip-reading, and emotions—all of which are critical for deaf and hard of hearing people to fully communicate and participate in the course of care.
"The ClearMask reduces miscommunication and confusion, while adhering to safety and infection control protocol."
The inspiration for the ClearMask™ comes from its co-founder Allysa Dittmar, who is deaf.
She found traditional surgical masks that blocked her providers' faces impeded effective communication and safety during surgery.
And since the pandemic, per the ClearMask website, the company has "worked with state emergency management agencies, hospitals, clinics, schools, essential workers, and different communities in need to get the masks out to as many people as possible."
VT spoke to co-founder Allysa Dittmar about the company's journey thus far.
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She said of the company's growth since its inception in 2017:
"We have grown from a small startup of four Johns Hopkins students back in 2017 to a full company in 2020 selling millions of the ClearMask to government agencies, hospitals, companies, schools, and many others."
And of the standout memory from the ClearMask's journey thus far, Allysa Dittmar told VT:
"All of us agreed that our favorite memory was getting the email notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the ClearMask received full FDA clearance (approval) on April 6, 2020. It marked a significant milestone for our company and it is a testament to our team's hard work over the past three years."
Since the coronavirus pandemic struck, the value of these transparent face masks has been thrown into even sharper relief.
Millions of ClearMasks have been provided by the company thus far, according to a company press release:
"There has been a widespread and innate need to see each others’ faces, not only among deaf and hard of hearing people, but everyone. The ClearMask™ reflects universal design and benefits many people from diverse backgrounds."
Now, perhaps more than ever before, the connections we make with each other - whether that be on a Zoom call, or in-person from a social distance - are vitally important.
Wonderful innovations like the ClearMask™ are allowing those connections to continue even as we maintain our distance, while making sure that deaf and hard of hearing individuals are not left behind.
Due to the ongoing global pandemic, it is only natural that people are taking every precaution possible to reduce their risk of becoming infected.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO): "Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing."
In addition, the WHO recommends keeping a safe "social distance", as it is possible to breathe in the virus from somebody else if they cough or sneeze.
As a result, you may have noticed more and more people opting to wear face masks. Some people have even been buying face masks for their cats and dogs.
Now, one woman by the name of Danielle Baskin has created an answer a solution nobody really wanted... but could quite possibly need.
Introducing 'Face ID compatible respirator masks' - a novelty idea that has evolved into something both rather cool and disturbing at the same time.
Back in February, Baskin, who describes herself as "a product designer, situation designer, visual artist, and the CEO of Dialup.com," according to her website, pitched the idea of printing faces onto respirator masks.
Writing on Twitter, Baskin wrote: "Made this service that prints your face on an N95 mask, so you can protect people from viral epidemics while still being able to unlock your phone."
Baskin accompanies the tweet with a link to a website for the product, FaceIDMasks.com, which carries the tagline: "Unlock your devices with a surgical mask that looks just like you."
It adds: "We make N95 respiratory masks that work with facial recognition software. Our masks are custom printed with your face making phone access easy during viral epidemics."
"If you're sick, wearing a mask makes it hard to use your biometric data to access your phone.
However, Baskin has stated that this is not yet 100% proven, writing in another tweet: "To everyone asking: I'm testing the facial recognition reliability across devices. But what if you just want to be recognized by your friends?"
But despite the masks being listed as "still in development", the site also states that the masks will be sold for $40.
Baskin has also stated that she will not be producing the product during the global shortage of respiratory masks, writing on Twitter: "To all those inquiring: No, I don't have plans to produce these *during* the global mask shortage. There's a waitlist and no launch date."
In a DM exchange with Mashable, the designer reinforced this point, saying: "I'm trying to explain to people that I'm not hoarding masks for this project! I bought all my N95 masks in 2016 and I wear masks because I sometimes work with chemicals. No new masks were purchased."
Baskin added on Twitter that "other uses for selfie masks that folks have mentioned, besides unlocking your phone" include "anti-surveillance tech (if using a different face)", "adds whimsy to the sterility of hospitals", and "if you're sick (or breathing smoke), you might be more likely to wear a mask if it looks 'cool'".
No matter what you think of the masks, one Twitter user pointed out that the masks will be beneficial in a hospital environment, as they will help the personable relationships between medical staff and their patients.
In her exchange with Mashable, Baskin stated: "Many people have mentioned that these would be great in hospital settings, especially children's hospitals. Waking up to a room of faceless masked doctors can be unsettling, but if masks had a unique print on them, maybe being in a room of doctors would be a more warm or lighter experience."
During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many governments all over the world have introduced special measures and requirements designed to control the spread of the virus.
Of course, social distancing and hand washing are chief among these requirements, yet as we have learned more about the spread of coronavirus, face masks have become an important tool in attempting to help lessen the prevalence of COVID-19.
An article published on the BBC website back in May attempted to explain the thinking behind the wearing of face masks to this end.
In the United Kingdom, face masks are now a requirement in shops and on public transport. As such, many people are turning to stylish face coverings as a long term option.
For example, you can now get a matching face mask and bandanna for you and your dog from an Etsy seller.
Though if you wanted a more accurate depiction of your own face to wear over the top of - well, your own face - then some people have been posting on social media about their very own custom face masks with their own visage printed on them.
The only drawback?
It seems as though it's pretty hard to get the sizing right.
The trouble began when one Twitter user took to the social media site to write, "the good news is my custom facemask arrived, the bad news is that they printed my face 20% too large" along with a picture of the mask in question.
People began replying to this initial tweet, which garnered more than 58,000 retweets and 590,000 likes with their own customized masks that had arrived slightly awry in the size department.
"I know the feeling. Although I think mine is way more than 20%" wrote one commenter.
If you want to read more about why masks are an important tool during the coronavirus pandemic, Bill Nye recently broke down the science behind their use. You can read about it, and watch the videos, here.
Alien Facehugger face masks... They'll help you scare off a lot more than just the virus!
This incredible mask combines the useful safety of a facemask with the classic Alien franchise, and it was created by James Body of Pirate's Leatherworks in York, UK.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: James Body]]
Body came up with the fantastic design because like the rest of us, he needed a mask to protect himself, but as you can tell, the result is something more impressive than what most of us are wearing right now.
In fact, I'd go as far as to describe the craftsmanship of the mask as being akin to a work of art (albeit a scary one).
The only difference between this mask and the creature in Alien is that it allows the wearer to see, and if it looks like exactly what you need to keep yourself during the pandemic, Body will be selling masks on his Etsy site again soon.
[[imagecaption|| Credit: James Body]]
This comes as Bill Nye recently broke down the science behind facemasks in a TikTok video - on the off chance that the importance of wearing one is still not clear enough to you.
Face masks have become a hotly debated topic in the United States. While many opt to follow public health recommendations by wearing one in public in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19, others see the coverings as an attack on individual freedom.
Yet Bill Nye is here to show us why masks are important when it comes to limiting the spread of COVID-19, and he's done so in a new TikTok video that amounts to part science experiment, part PSA.
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"Why do people in the scientific community want you to wear a face mask when you are out in public?" Nye asks in the video.
"Masks prevent particles from my respiratory system from getting into your respiratory system... Blocking the movement of air is an old trick." He went on, per CNN.
Nye demonstrates how a homemade two-layer cotton face mask with a pipe cleaner sewn in the top to conform to his nose prevents a candle from being blown out even when he blows hard through the mask.
He then continues his experiment in a second video, showing how an N-95 also prevents the candle from being extinguished when Nye blows hard through it.
“The reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect you. Sure,” Nye says towards the end of the video.
“But the main reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect me from you and the particles from your respiratory system from getting into my respiratory system.
“Everybody, this is a matter – literally – of life and death. And when I use the word ‘literally’, I mean ‘literally’ a matter of life and death.
“So when you’re out in public, please wear a mask.”
Nye's videos have garned millions of views on TikTok since they were posted.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo even shared one of them on his Twitter. "Listen to Bill Nye," he wrote.
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