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16th May 2020
11:00am BST

"As there is a shortage of surgical face masks, you can't underestimate the importance of making masks that are as safe as a cloth mask can possibly be, as they need to fit perfectly over the nose and face with, for example, elastic straps around the head and not ears, so there are no gaps. "This design, using cotton material with space for a filter, can offer safety to staff and patients in the absence of surgical masks and can be reused and boiled. They are designed for the best filtration possible and for longevity as they are such a limited resource. "It is concerning that many face masks don't completely fit the face, and that hospital staff are unable to use face masks unless they are surgical masks which are in very short supply."So far, Masks 4 All Ireland has recruited 690 sewists volunteering their time to the cause and has created an amazing total of 36,050 masks. Keeping in mind that these masks can be washed and used at least 30 times, so that's the equivalent of 1,081,500 surgical masks. We think that's insanely impressive. If you want to help out with this amazing cause, you can sign up to become a sewist by joining the Facebook group here - their aim is to set up little subgroups for each county. Alternatively, you can donate to their GoFundMe page here. For more information on this amazing initiative, visit the Masks 4 All Ireland website to learn more.
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