As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to sweep the world, governments have been taking action to ensure that the situation can be controlled. The CDC has already issued an official public health alert, and desperate measures like Switzerland’s recent ban on gatherings of over 1,000 people demonstrate just how dangerous this new epidemic is. Despite these efforts, the virus has continued to spread with new confirmed cases popping up every day throughout the world.
In places where the virus is prevalent, like China, where it originated, and other Asian countries like Korea and Japan, the demand for medical and N95 grade masks have soared, leaving suppliers unable to meet this demand effectively. As a result, prices have ramped up and have forced people to cut costs where it matters the most.
As supply falls short of the demand, some people are forced to wear the same mask all day, which comes with a significant risk for their health as wearing the same mask dramatically reduces the protection provided by it.
Meet Nora UV-C Mask Sterilizer
We’ve recently talked about AusAir, a redesign of the modern face mask that kills 97% of airborne viruses and is also effective against smoke and pollution. Although the AusAir comes with changeable filters, it can become a costly solution over time, though an effective one.
This is where the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer comes in handy. Although it has an initial cost that can be hefty for some, this solution ensures that face masks can be worn multiple times, providing a much more cost-effective solution in the long term.
The Nora UV-C mask sterilizer is a medical and N95 grade mask sterilizer that works with ultraviolet light at specific wavelengths to induce damage to viruses and other biomes. This mask sterilizer uses UV lights because it’s the only safe way to disinfect these types of masks as filters can be damaged by streams or sprays.
This non-profit initiative needs a minimum of $5,000 to start mass production.
How Does It Work
So, how does the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer work? The mainboard provides a UV light source and a top plate where the mask rests, where people only need to place their face mask on top of the plate in a concave position, turn on the UV light for 30 minutes and allow the sterilizer to do its magic. It also comes with a protective cover that blocks harmful UV-C rays while also avoiding any contamination during or after the sterilization process.
The Nora UV-C mask sterilizer seems easy enough to use, and it will be chargeable through any smartphone or type-C charger. The interesting question is, why does it work? The Nora mask sterilizer uses ultraviolet lights to kill the virus. Specifically, “265 to 285nm short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) lights”.
The special UV-C lights are enough to kill viruses by disrupting their vital cellular functions and rendering them incapable of contaminating other organisms. Although the Coronavirus is new, a conservative estimation indicates that 15 to 30 minutes of sterilization with the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer is enough to kill 99.99% of the virus. Moreover, the sterilizer provides twice as much optical power as what has been set as a standard by regulatory entities.
Downside
While the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer seems to be a promising product, it comes with a few downsides. One of its major issues is how expensive it is. Although it’s a more reliable long-term investment when compared to solutions like AusAir, there is a large set of the population (especially in the regions where it’s needed the most) who simply cannot afford this or any other solution, leaving them exposed to the virus.
Not only that, but the sterilizer is a personal product, which means that each individual must buy their own piece. It cannot be shared, making it more expensive for families.
Another thing to consider is the timeframe of the project. The campaign ends 28 days from now, and some believe that the Cronovirus may be handled by then. Although this may not be entirely true, the demand for this solution is (hopefully) temporary. Nevertheless, the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer has other applications that still make it useful after the Coronavirus. Users sterilize other items and protect them against other viruses such as the flu (Influenza), which, although not as mediatic, is a more significant threat in terms of casualties.
About the NovaCare
As previously mentioned, the Nora UV-C mask sterilizer is a non-profit project in which the funds gathered will be used to produce and deliver sterilizers to the project supporters, using any remainders to produce and ship free sterilizers to those in need. The project allows supporters to buy masks for themselves, and, for a sum of €3,635, it also allows supporters to contribute to the cause, by sending over 100 mask sterilizers on behalf of the supporter.
The Nora UV-C mask sterilizer was created by Thomas Sun, a California-based Ph.D. in electronics, who has seen its company’s activities in Beijing disrupted by the virus. This prompted Thomas to idealize the Nora sterilizer and to kickstart its crowdfunding campaign.
Final Notes
The Nora UV-C mask sterilizer is a smart and accessible product that can help many improve their protection during these troubling times and save money while doing it. While it may not be the ideal solution for all those in need of better protection, it is certainly a step in the right direction.
