"Furthermore, it has been tested on different sterilization methods—such as autoclaving, soaking in bleach or isopropanol—which can be easily performed both at hospitals and in the home,” said Kamilla Kan, medical device analyst at GlobalData “However, even with a huge demand for PPE, it is hard to predict if the iMasc will be successful in the competitive market since the new system is still in the process of development. The mask's cost of production may be too expensive, and the quality control might be too hard to maintain for large-scale production."

In sum, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota reported that a commentary in The Lancet Public Health calls for universal face masking, data transparency, and cooperation among international governments to ensure equitable distribution of PPE, including use of the World Health Organization's international portal for PPE orders.

"If we are ever to outpace COVID-19, there must be accountability at every level, from the community to top government officials," wrote the op-ed authors. "By combining a centralized mechanism for supply chain oversight with universal masking and data transparency at local levels, it is possible to afford healthcare workers the protection they deserve."

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