Message Jake Goldblum, CEO of EmpireCovers
Helping Our Community and Customers
The lack of medical masks has become a growing issue and concern, so we have taken some actions to help as best as we can:
- We urge our customers to create their own masks so that the highest quality masks can make their way to the health care workers that need them the most.
- We have created an easy instructional video that teaches you how to use our covers to create your own masks (Linked Above).
- While these masks are not medical grade, our covers are made from a similar non-woven breathable material found in surgical masks, have a soft inner lining, and are splash proof, which mitigates the spread of the virus.
- One car cover can make up to 150 masks. We encourage those who have access to the equipment needed to make at-home masks to make as many as they can to provide them to their neighbors and community members who are unable to sew them themselves.
- For those who want to make their own masks and do not have a sewing machine, we recommend using duct tape or a stapler instead.
Facts About Face Masks
- Face Masks (aka Personal Protective Equipment) are in extremely short supply in the United States. They should not be confused with N95 Masks—which are sealed to the face and critically needed by medical personnel and those who are known to have been directly exposed to patients with proven or suspected COVID-19. However, as evidenced below, face masks have real value and benefit.
- Face masks have real value and benefit and should be supplied to and are STRONGLY recommended to be worn by older adults, those with underlying medical conditions and others who need to leave their home for any reason
- Face masks, importantly, prevent users from touching their mouth and nose with their possibly contaminated hand.
- See Boston Globe article , 3/19/2020, “Guidance against wearing masks for the coronavirus is wrong – you should cover your face”.
- Face masks PREVENT potential asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic transmission and are strongly recommended by older adults and those with underlying medical conditions. See authoritative British Medical Journal, the Lancet, 3/20/2020: “Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic”: Perhaps it would also be rational to recommend that people in quarantine wear face masks if they need to leave home for any reason, to prevent potential asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic transmission. In addition, vulnerable populations, such as older adults and those with underlying medical conditions, should wear face masks if available. Universal use of face masks could be considered if supplies permit (Emphasis added)
- The CDC’s advice similarly includes: To protect yourself: wear a face mask if you are sick and cover coughs and sneezes.
We will continue to do our best to help our community and customers during this crisis. I'd like to personally thank everyone for their continued support and patience. EmpireCovers has and always will keep you covered. Stay safe, stay inside, and we will get through this together.
Best,
Jake Goldblum
COVID-19 Resources and Articles
-Boston Globe, Guidance against wearing masks for the coronavirus is wrong - you should cover your face: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/19/opinion/guidance-against-wearing-masks-coronavirus-is-wrong-you-should-cover-your-face/
-The Lancet, Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30134-X/fulltext
-CDC, COVID-19 Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
-White House, 15 days to slow the spread: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf
-World Health Organization, Advise for the public: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
-Google, COVID-19 Resources: https://www.google.com/covid19/