Coronavirus: University develops baking process to decontaminate face masks

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Researchers at a Michigan university believe they have discovered a way to decontaminate face masks, which have been in short supply -- bake them.

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Scientists at Michigan State University are using commercial ovens to effectively clean N95 face masks -- a process that appears to be working, the Lansing State Journal reported.

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“I think we have a duty and obligation to use those resources in any way we can in this moment,” university extension director Jeff Dwyer told the State Journal. "We need to be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things and push for solutions. Then this becomes an instance that we believe the decontamination of N95 masks … will be one of the important components of saving the lives of patients who have COVID-19 and the lives of the health care providers taking care of them.”

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The school hopes to start using the process next week to help medical facilities decontaminate face masks for health care workers.