N.Y. Nurses Say Used N95 Masks are Being Re-Packed in Boxes to Look New

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Newsweek

Nurses working at an intensive care unit in a New York hospital say they discovered used N95 respirator masks in a storage closet that are being made to look new and distributed for use by hospital officials.

The ICU nurses sent a video to News 12 Sunday showing dozens of the N95 masks, which provide the best protection against COVID-19, hanging on a clothesline in a storage closet at the Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) in Poughkeepsie.

The nurses said the hospital was recycling the masks and boxing them up to make them appear new, something hospital administrators denied.

"All those masks were there to be packed away and saved," VBMC President Peter Kelly told News 12 Thursday, adding that VBMC and other hospitals around the country have saved masks to be sanitized and reused only if there's another national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), like the one seen earlier this year when the pandemic first hit the U.S.



Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/ny-nurses-say-used-n95-masks-are-being-re-packed-in-boxes-to-look-new/ar-BB18ehxP?li=BBnb7Kz

[FarPoint]

1. Cheating, lying ...it is now the way of America...

Last edited Fri Aug 21, 2020, 12:22 PM - Edit history (1)

It comes from the top...tRump gave permission as did the enabling GOP'ers and GOP Senate Majority...We can choose to change this direction....Vote Biden.

[Throck]

2. Is it possible they have one of the re-sterilization machines available?

Early on some researchers were working on one. Although to be honest they should have been labeled as such.

[Lasher]

13. I know of at least one area hospital that's recycling used N95s

But I don't know anything about the method they use. There's nothing sinister about it. Hospital workers turn in their ventilators and they get them back in a few days.

[LisaL]

18. There are several methods that can be used.

One is hydrogen peroxide. The other is UVC irradiation.

[Lasher]

39. I understand the skepticism here but I think this is a good thing.

After all, COVID can't live forever on any surface at room temperature. I have just one M95 that I bought years ago for working in dusty environments. I seldom use it but if I briefly do so, I consider it corona free if I leave it in the truck for 3 days.

[IronLionZion]

3. They're just saving the world from climate change

I get why they would want to reuse the masks in a shortage. But how well can you trust the sanitization if you didn't do it yourself?

My Dad is an ER doc in Florida and uses a fancy reusable respirator that looks like a gas mask, which he cleans himself for the safety of the workers who clean things.

[chowder66]

4. They can sanitize them using instant pots.

Up to 20 times and they can do multiple masks at a time.

[getagrip_already]

7. bs - instant pots don't get hot enuf....

They can sanitize, but not sterilize. To sterilize, you have to use pressure of at least 15 psi for 90 minutes. The newest instant pots only get to 12 psi max.

It is not a sterilizer. It's still repugnant to use a professional sterilizer. These are only certified as single use. The fda didn't grant any ability to sterilize.

We are talking about a paper product. It is a sandwich of filter paper and a polyester film. Neither will stand up to the temps required to sterilize, and nobody knows how they would react to a gas or alpha particles.

[chowder66]

8. My apologies I meant to type sanitize.

[chowder66]

9. And thank you for pointing out my mistake! I have corrected it.

[LisaL]

19. Hospitals don't sanitize in instant pots.

There are several systems that hospitals have been using, either hydrogen peroxide or UVC irradiation.

[Progressive dog]

5. I believe the administrators.

There are almost no covid patients in VBMC at this time. They did have an entire floor restricted to them.
It does make sense that PPE would be saved to be used in place of garbage bags and hand made masks.
The hospital has been open to elective patients for some time now, since NY beat down covid.
COVID tests are required no more than 3 days before elective admission, at least as late as last week. Entry past the lobby requires a normal temperature. Last week was the first time since March that visitors were allowed. Visitors are still restricted to one per patient and are not allowed to stay more than two hours.
IMO Vassar Brothers is a very well run hospital with mostly pleasant and efficient staff. That is from my own experiences. It is the best hospital that is reasonably close to me.

[getagrip_already]

10. it still strains credibility....

If that were the case, they would be bulk packaged and clearly labeled "Used - BioHazard" as required by standard hospital practice.

They wouldn't be put back in new factory packages. They wouldn't be unlabeled.

There is a standard procedure for handling medical waste. Putting them on a shelf in new packaging isn't it.

[Progressive dog]

14. Well that story is being hyped by

Newsweek, which recently promoted a new birther story abou Kamala Harris. They have no credibility with me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek#Factual_errors

[Lasher]

40. A good point, thanks for that.

[LisaL]

17. Who says the masks were in a new factory packages?

The image shown in the article is completely unrelated to the story. Read the caption under the photo. The photo is showing masks in new packaging in Austin TX. The article is talking about a nurse observing some masks hanging in New York.

[appalachiablue]

29. +1

[LiberalArkie]

6. They may have or going to be sent off to be sterilized.

The one thing I have noticed since Trump appeared is that no one believes any one any more or trusts anyone.

If Biden does anything, I hope he can bring back a little bit of trust in others.

[getagrip_already]

11. Then they would have been in a red bag marked biohazard......

Not put on a shelf in new packaging. Sorry, doesn't pass the smell test.

[stopdiggin]

15. anything going in to a red bag

is not intended for reuse. That would kind of defeat the purpose here?

[LiberalArkie]

20. Red bag is biohazard for disposal isn't it.

But I agree, if they have not already been sterilized then they should have been in a maintenance or such area so they would not be mistaken as "clean"

[getagrip_already]

38. not necessarily.....

The red bag is a warning that it contains a bioazard. I've seen tissue and blood samples in red containers even though they were going to a lab.

At the very least, they should have had a biohazard sticker on the outer packaging. That is essentially what they are.

[LisaL]

16. I don't see any evidence that they were put on a shelf in a new packaging.

Nurse claimed she saw the masks hanging somewhere. The article appears to show a stock image of masks in new packages. The caption says the image shows masks in Austin, TX.
So it seems quite misleading to show an unrelated image of masks in new packaging then imply they are not new.

[stopdiggin]

27. and the (purposeful) misleading

is why the article fails to be wholly persuasive. (thanks Newsweek)

[LisaL]

36. Add to that, nurse saw the masks hanging.

Hospital explained they were collecting them to be reused if needed after proper decontamination. That actually has been approved by the FDA. Decontamination includes hydrogen peroxide. Hospital then says they didn't need to do it after all because they got enough of new masks.
Nurse somehow made a conclusion that hospital is putting these used masks into new boxes. No evidence is provided on that in the article, except showing a totally unrelated image of boxes (caption clearly states the photo is not even taken in NY).

[sl8]

37. Well, one nurse says that her "new" mask had makeup on it.

I imagine that was at least part of what convinced them that the masks were being repackaged.

That said, I'm not not convinced, either way.

http://www.news12.com/story/42523706/nurses-at-poughkeepsie-medical-center-accuse-hospital-reusing-n95-masks

[Buckeye_Democrat]

12. I'm not planning to wear the 3M N95 masks...

... that I recently received from Menard's via UPS.

I have even better filtering masks (N100-rated), mostly consisting of hypoallergenic plastic/rubber except for the actual filters, but they have exhalation valves. Those valves can be covered with cloth masks, but I worried that some non-logical strict policy-follower could complain about them because of the valves. "They're against our policy!" (Even when tightly covered with a cloth mask that by itself would be fine.)

Anyway, I HATE these N95 fiber masks! I can't imagine wearing these ITCHY things for several hours a day! There's tiny little loose fibers along the edges that are itchy as heck! I'll wear them if I HAVE to wear them, of course, but wow... I feel even more sympathy for the healthcare workers that I've seen wearing them.

[LiberalArkie]

21. It would be banned as the inspector would not. be able to tell

[LisaL]

23. Be able to tell what?

If a cloth mask is put on top of valved mask, that's totally fine. Your exhaled air is filtered as if you were wearing a cloth mask.

[LiberalArkie]

26. Oh that is different.. Out of sight out of mind..

I have one like you and it has filter inserts, but it is very obvious. I will be glad when the mask wearing it over so I can wear my hearing aides again.

[LisaL]

31. Seriously?

It's perfectly fine to wear just a cloth mask. If you wear a valved N95 with cloth mask over it, you are achieving the same effect with filtering exhaled air as if you wore just the cloth mask.
What does it have to do with out of sight, out of mind? The goal of mask is to filter your exhaled air. Which you are filtering if you put a cloth mask over a valved mask.

[LiberalArkie]

33. It is just that the person checking the temp and such probably won't even notice

the valved mask under the cloth one. The reason the places do not like the valved mask is that on the 3M and other valved masks your exhaled breath goes straight out to the other people unfiltered.

Hospitals have been using the resuscitator mask is it makes exhaling easier which is alright unless the person wearing it has am airborne virus.

[LisaL]

35. Which is why you put another mask on top of a valved mask.

Then your exhaled air is filtered. So there is no more reason to be concerned about the valve. Nurses and doctors put surgical masks on top of valved masks and it's perfectly fine.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

30. Thanks again for telling me about those 3M masks!

As you can see above, I think they're itchy! (Might be just me, as I have some allergies.)

They're nice to have in some weird scenario for me, as discussed before.

[LisaL]

32. I actually like the disposables better than a rubber mask.

Because of hot weather, my face would be sweating like crazy in a rubber mask. When it gets colder, rubber masks will be more usable.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

34. I'm allergic to latex and some other stuff.

So it could be a personal problem for me.

Latex gloves, for example, will quickly cause a very red and itchy rash on my skin. (Nitrile gloves are no problem.)

Agree that the rubber masks can get hotter!

I'm glad to have a pair of the disposable ones handy if needed, regardless.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

25. Maybe, but I wear the cloth mask OVER the valve.

It's a cloth mask that would be perfectly acceptable if worn alone, directly on my face.

I just figured that some strict rule-follower type might demand to know about the bulging plastic/rubber mask underneath the cloth, then freak out about it.

[stopdiggin]

22. the article leaves some questions

Seems as though nobody actually saw "used" masked being repackaged in new boxes. And hospital says they are not reusing or recycling masks at all.
(that said -- no institution is ever aware of what every single employee is doing at all times. Somebody possibly doing this on their own, for use outside the system?)

Edit: link at #24 says the hospital is saving for reuse -- and that nurses claim they are being given reused masks while on duty -- still nothing on claims of re-packaging as new.

[LisaL]

28. Hospital says they were storing the masks in case they would need to use them, after proper

decontamination. Hospitals are allowed to send masks for decontamination using hydrogen peroxide.

[sl8]

24. Original story, video:

http://www.news12.com/story/42523706/nurses-at-poughkeepsie-medical-center-accuse-hospital-reusing-n95-masks

[ck4829]

41. K&R