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"Currently, of the 200 million masks China makes a day, only 600,000 are N95 standard masks, used by medical personnel, according to the National Development an

by Leary 7y ago

"Currently, of the 200 million masks China makes a day, only 600,000 are N95 standard masks, used by medical personnel, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, a state planning body. " Wow, that is not enough.

Retric 7y ago
That’s 3 N95 masks for 200,000 people every day. China meanwhile has over 3 million doctors. So, production clearly needs to ramp up, but it’s not so far off the mark they can’t get there in a few months.
- est31 7y ago
  By now they probably have already exhausted/repurposed all the second hand manufacturing machines so they need new ones to add additional capacity. According to the article, the company building them needs months for a new one due to the precision requirements.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - Retric 7y ago
    Even assuming it takes 5-6 months, I assume they did not start building new machines today. Starting late January puts the ramp up starting in ~3-4 months.
    - bluGill 7y ago
      I would guess the machines are built one at a time to order. That would be typical for such things with small demand.
- 9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
  China is down to ~8000 COVID patients, so that number is actually fine. It's supplying the rest of the world that's the problem. http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia
  - blackrock 7y ago
    Based on the article’s last line, the problem is that it is very difficult to make a profit on masks. When this thing blows over, no one will buy an N95 mask anymore, and the capital investment will have been wasted, and possibly never be recovered. Probably the only people making any real money on masks are the hoarders, that collect and sell it for triple the price.
    - doodlebugging 7y ago
      I disagree with the idea that no one will will an N95 mask after this threat ends. I personally use N95 masks in my shop all the time. I have a collection of masks for various filtration tasks including dust, welding gases, paint and organic vapors, and even an asbestos rated dust mask. Some of them are disposable N95 or N99 masks while others are half-face canister cartidge masks. There will always be a market for masks and I think the price will go back down to normal levels - under $30 for 20 disposable masks. Plus you have to consider that medical workers who use different N95 masks than I need, will always need protection from airborne threats. That won't change at all. The only change will be the threat itself. People that hoarded these masks to gouge others should be held to account for that. I considered buying masks for my family but once I decided it might be a good idea, they were in short supply and the gougers had taken over the market. I currently have a few masks in my shop but almost all of them are used. I just bag them in a ziploc between uses so they don't absorb any fumes or get dusty or in the worst case, get pissed on by the rats that I'm trying to keep out of my shop.
    - 9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
      I'd imagine (or at least hope) a lot of governments and hospitals around the world will be building up stockpiles after this all blows over.
- tanilama 7y ago
  I don't think all nurses and doctors are using N95 quality masks. At least from the videos I saw, many of them don't, and simply wearing surgical facemasks. That is what we have to live with.
chuckledog 7y ago
There is quite is quite a bit of information readily available about sterilizing disposable N95 masks with UV-C light. While not nearly as good as a fresh mask, this might be a preferable alternative to reusing the same mask unsterilized. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pdf https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pd... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disinfectant-box-kill-viruses-off-n95-mask/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disi... The UV light needs to have a wavelength around 260nm (shorter wavelength than standard UV light). Such UVC lamps are cheap and readily available, commonly used in consumer products for aquarium water sterilization and air purification. Example replacement bulb: GermGuardian LB4000 GENUINE UV-C Replacement Bulb for AC4300BPTCA, AC4825, AC4850PT & AC4900CA Germ Guardian Air Purifiers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055522F6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4DzCEbW8QFQ9V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055522F6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4D...
- doodlebugging 7y ago
  I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC website a few weeks ago when I was exploring the possibility of buying masks for my family and found that they were already being hawked online at ridiculous prices. Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canning of food goods have a pressure cooker and are already familiar with usage and cleaning. The article posted suggests that this could be a viable method of home decontamination of used masks if I read it right. I also found an article that touched on use of a steamer to accomplish similar results. I can't find that article right now but if I do I will post it for review. Microwaving alone, without adding water to generate the steam should kill most water-based organisms. The article I read stated that microwave times from 30 seconds to 5 minutes were used. I need to find that article... What does everyone else think? I'd be interested in hearing. (0) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/
  - SirLuxuryYacht 7y ago

by Leary 7y ago

Retric 7y ago

That’s 3 N95 masks for 200,000 people every day. China meanwhile has over 3 million doctors. So, production clearly needs to ramp up, but it’s not so far off the mark they can’t get there in a few months.

est31 7y ago
By now they probably have already exhausted/repurposed all the second hand manufacturing machines so they need new ones to add additional capacity. According to the article, the company building them needs months for a new one due to the precision requirements.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- Retric 7y ago
  Even assuming it takes 5-6 months, I assume they did not start building new machines today. Starting late January puts the ramp up starting in ~3-4 months.
  - bluGill 7y ago
    I would guess the machines are built one at a time to order. That would be typical for such things with small demand.
9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
China is down to ~8000 COVID patients, so that number is actually fine. It's supplying the rest of the world that's the problem. http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia
- blackrock 7y ago
  Based on the article’s last line, the problem is that it is very difficult to make a profit on masks. When this thing blows over, no one will buy an N95 mask anymore, and the capital investment will have been wasted, and possibly never be recovered. Probably the only people making any real money on masks are the hoarders, that collect and sell it for triple the price.
  - doodlebugging 7y ago
    I disagree with the idea that no one will will an N95 mask after this threat ends. I personally use N95 masks in my shop all the time. I have a collection of masks for various filtration tasks including dust, welding gases, paint and organic vapors, and even an asbestos rated dust mask. Some of them are disposable N95 or N99 masks while others are half-face canister cartidge masks. There will always be a market for masks and I think the price will go back down to normal levels - under $30 for 20 disposable masks. Plus you have to consider that medical workers who use different N95 masks than I need, will always need protection from airborne threats. That won't change at all. The only change will be the threat itself. People that hoarded these masks to gouge others should be held to account for that. I considered buying masks for my family but once I decided it might be a good idea, they were in short supply and the gougers had taken over the market. I currently have a few masks in my shop but almost all of them are used. I just bag them in a ziploc between uses so they don't absorb any fumes or get dusty or in the worst case, get pissed on by the rats that I'm trying to keep out of my shop.
  - 9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
    I'd imagine (or at least hope) a lot of governments and hospitals around the world will be building up stockpiles after this all blows over.
tanilama 7y ago
I don't think all nurses and doctors are using N95 quality masks. At least from the videos I saw, many of them don't, and simply wearing surgical facemasks. That is what we have to live with.

chuckledog 7y ago

There is quite is quite a bit of information readily available about sterilizing disposable N95 masks with UV-C light. While not nearly as good as a fresh mask, this might be a preferable alternative to reusing the same mask unsterilized. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pdf https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pd... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disinfectant-box-kill-viruses-off-n95-mask/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disi... The UV light needs to have a wavelength around 260nm (shorter wavelength than standard UV light). Such UVC lamps are cheap and readily available, commonly used in consumer products for aquarium water sterilization and air purification. Example replacement bulb: GermGuardian LB4000 GENUINE UV-C Replacement Bulb for AC4300BPTCA, AC4825, AC4850PT & AC4900CA Germ Guardian Air Purifiers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055522F6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4DzCEbW8QFQ9V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055522F6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4D...

doodlebugging 7y ago
I believe that microwaving a used mask could also be an effective way to sterilize the mask. (0) I found this information by following links from the CDC website a few weeks ago when I was exploring the possibility of buying masks for my family and found that they were already being hawked online at ridiculous prices. Perhaps steam and/or use of a pressure cooker could also be effective. Many people who do home canning of food goods have a pressure cooker and are already familiar with usage and cleaning. The article posted suggests that this could be a viable method of home decontamination of used masks if I read it right. I also found an article that touched on use of a steamer to accomplish similar results. I can't find that article right now but if I do I will post it for review. Microwaving alone, without adding water to generate the steam should kill most water-based organisms. The article I read stated that microwave times from 30 seconds to 5 minutes were used. I need to find that article... What does everyone else think? I'd be interested in hearing. (0) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3078131/
- SirLuxuryYacht 7y ago