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We have found that better medical masks and respirators (collectively referred to as devices) than the ones we have been using for decades are possible, but progress in their development and manufacture is blocked by a confluence of factors including industrial inertia, lack of competition, complacent consumers (health systems prior to COVID-19), regulatory barriers, an uncertain market, and lack of US government policy.
Widespread public use of effective, commercially available masks and respirators could help save many thousands of lives during the next severe pandemic of a respiratory pathogen and reduce the resulting economic damage.
It is important to have a ready supply and surge manufacturing capacity of high-quality devices when severe or catastrophic respiratory epidemics emerge. Widespread public use of effective, commercially available masks during periods of other respiratory disease would reduce transmission of common respiratory pathogens such as influenza that kills on average more than 15,000 Americans per year.
Based on the following general principles, we make recommendations for federal action below:
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