COVID-19: Kolkata's Jadavpur University working on low-cost masks

Researchers at Jadavpur University have developed a prototype of a three-layer fabric mask using low-cost and readily available materials, amid the growing demand for such safety equipment to combat the dreaded coronavirus.

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The varsity's Centre for Appropriate Social Technologies (CAST), an idea incubation centre, has prepared the preliminary version working on a "simple procedure" and with materials mostly available at home, it said in a statement.

The two outer layers of the mask are made of polypropylene fabric, while a cotton towel forms the inner portion.

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"Majority of the droplets caused by sneezing will be screened by this mask, which would also cause no difficulty in breathing for a person," the JU statement said.

Further experimentation on bigger scale can be carried out when the university laboratories are accessible once the lockdown phase is over, it said.

"The three-layer mask can be made very easily using any suitable method -- a sewing machine or even by hand," it added.

Two researchers at the School of Medical Science and Technology, IIT Kharagpur, had recently come up with the prototype of a face shield for health workers attending to COVID-19 cases.

The face shield is a transparent plastic protective cover attached to an elastic gear.