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Reusable masks from Hong Kong government can filter bacteria, fungi and viruses
- A government source told the Post more than 7 million of the face coverings will be ready for distribution later this month
- The filtration technology developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel won a top European prize in 2018
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Reusable masks the government has promised to distribute to all Hong Kong residents were developed by a local public research institute and employ enhanced filtration technology that earned top honours at a European exhibition in 2018, the Post has learned.
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Certain batches have already been reserved for local schools, with senior secondary students – sent home in February as Covid-19 fears mounted – likely to resume classes this month, an education official familiar with the situation said.
With the city now set to partially ease social-distancing measures, full details of the government’s reusable mask scheme are expected to be announced as early as Tuesday.
A government source told the Post more than 7 million would be produced ahead of the handout. “When we distribute the masks later this month, it will be enough for every single Hongkonger,” the source said.
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Insiders explained that the new washable masks were developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), one of five publicly funded research and development centres in the city. HKRITA functions under the auspices of Polytechnic University.
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