U.S. Herd Immunity Sometime This Summer

Skanska Installs MERV 13 Filters and Ionizers

McCarthy Holdings also Installs MERV 13 Filters

Unions Can Raise the Bar Above Minimum Standards

Lydall CEO Predicts Strong Mask and Filter Demand Through 2022

Will HHS 25 Million Mask Purchase be Similar to  500 Million N95 Respirator Purchase
Last Year?

Dony Setting Up Supply Chains for Public Masks in the U.S. and Europe

SinglePoint Completes Acquisition of Box PureAir

$130 Billion for Schools in New Plan Includes $6 Billion for Masks

PathO3Gen Foot Sanitizer Protects Cleanrooms, Assisted Living Facilities, and Hospitals

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U.S. Herd Immunity Sometime This Summer

The pace of Covid-19 vaccine administration in the US continues to improve, each day bringing the country closer to herd immunity - the point at which enough people are protected against a disease that it cannot spread.

This week, President Joe Biden said that the US will have enough vaccine for every adult by the end of May, and a CNN analysis of federal data shows that herd immunity is likely not far behind.

At the current pace of about 2 million shots per day - the latest seven-day average of doses administered reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - the US could reach herd immunity by summer through vaccinations alone. It will likely be even sooner, if factoring in individuals who may have some natural immunity due to prior infection.

Herd immunity thresholds for Covid-19 are only estimates at this point. But experts generally agree that somewhere between 70% and 85% of the population must be protected to suppress the spread, a range that Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has recently cited.

But the US Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the Johnson & Johnson's one-dose vaccine for emergency use, and the company has promised to deliver 100 million doses to the US in the first half of the year.

At the current pace of about 2 million doses per day, including 100 million doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 70% of the US population could be fully vaccinated around the end of July and 85% by mid-September, according to a CNN analysis.

The CDC estimates that more than a quarter of the population may have been infected by Covid-19, bumping the share of the population already protected up to nearly a third. Assuming there's no overlap between people with natural immunity and those protected through vaccination, herd immunity could be reached as early as June.

 

Skanska Installs MERV 13 Filters and Ionizers

Skanska USA's new 17,000-square-foot Portland, Oregon, office is an example of how post-pandemic workplace design can help protect the health of employees but still retain the features that make working together in the right location a big draw.
The company spent almost $6.4 million renovating the top two floors of an historic warehouse in the city's Pearl District, complete with rooftop deck. The renovation was in progress when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Skanska was able to make changes in the interest of health and safety, such as a layout that ensures 100% social distancing. The space also includes easy-to-sanitize surfaces, an open design with half-dividers and individual desks, conference rooms with clear plastic barriers between attendees, and an HVAC system equipped with ionization capabilities and MERV 13 filters.

Skanska started construction on the space in fall 2019 and completed the work in April 2020. The space is designed for 80 people, with 67 dedicated workstations and 11 flexible ones, according to Joe Schneider, Skanska USA senior vice president, but he added only 10 to 15 people are working there daily.

Other design features of the Portland office include:

• A full bike room in the basement.
• Showers.
• An open staircase connecting the two floors of offices.
• Large windows and a skylight to bring in natural light.
• The Hub Collaboration Space, which offers the opportunity for open standup or sitting meetings and includes standing desks and large m

 

McCarthy Holdings also Installs MERV 13 Filters

Another company that recently finished building out new office space is McCarthy Holdings, which includes McCarthy Building Cos. The St. Louis-based company left its headquarters of 50 years and relocated to the second and third floors of a building originally constructed for AT&T.

With the new headquarters comes an additional 30,000 square feet, a central staircase connecting its two floors; conference and training facilities; flex space for easy collaboration; amenities such as a fitness center and cafe; and state-of-the-art technology that will allow clients and project teams to experience an immersive view of projects, McCarthy said.

Like Skanska, McCarthy also included features focused on keeping employees safe during the pandemic. They include:

• An upgraded HVAC system with MERV 13 filters and an air treatment system with the capability to neutralize bacteria, viruses, mold and volatile organic compounds.
• A workspace design to maximize social distancing.
• Plexiglass divider screens and tall panels between workstations.
• Materials and surfaces that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

 

Unions Can Raise the Bar Above Minimum Standards

Teachers Unions want more than the minimum air quality. Building trade unions can understand ways to reach more than the minimum. Together they will be an influence and need to be contacted by suppliers of clean air products.

“We’re not in a bubble,” said Rudy Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the San Francisco building trades. “The majority of school district unions are regional, and some work in multiple school districts, as well as various aspects of the private sector, so we have perspectives on what’s happening elsewhere and in other industries. This gives us an edge, and knowledge.”

·         Gonzalez pointed to the Stationary Engineers union as an example, which has members who work professionally to install ventilation units. These workers can seek out reputable industry advice, Gonzalez said, regardless of whether it’s yet been adopted by local regulatory bodies. In mid-December, the demands the San Francisco unions called for included MERV 13 filters with five air changes per hour in every classroom, and compliance with ventilation guidance promoted by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, or ASHRAE, in unoccupied buildings. The ASHRAE guidelines were later endorsed by California in its updated Covid-19 guidance released January 14.

·         “People seem hyperfocused when what we ask for is not directly in sync with state guidance,” said Gonzalez. “But if labor leaders only ever agreed to the minimum safety standards, well, there would be more dead workers on our rolls every year.”

 

Lydall CEO Predicts Strong Mask and Filter Demand Through 2022

Lydall CEO Sara Greenstein on Friday told CNBC’s Jim Cramer that the company is working with the Biden White House to help replenish the national stockpile of personal protection equipment, and she expects demand for specialty filtration products to be greater beyond the pandemic.

The Manchester, Connecticut-based company makes specialty filtration material that is used in N95 respirators and surgical masks, items that are especially critical for health-care and frontline workers during a health crisis.

Greenstein said in a “Mad Money” interview that President Joe Biden’s administration is “actively pursuing efforts” to build a strategic stockpile.

As part of his first actions after taking office last month, President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to bolster supply chains for PPE to refill U.S. inventories. Lydall last summer received a $13.5 million federal contract under the previous administration to increase domestic production of meltblown air filtration media, a fabric component in N95 respirators that’s made to shield germs.

The company expanded capacity to meet demand for materials, with one line up and running at full production and sold out “for the foreseeable future,” Greenstein said. Two more lines are expected to be up and running by the third quarter, she said. address

The increased production allows Lydall to make enough material for 140 million N95 masks each month, up from about 21 million per month roughly a year ago. The company has said the U.S. will need about 2 billion respirators per year. Demand for surgical masks and other consumer masks are expected to remain elevated beyond the pandemic.

“We fully anticipate that national stockpiles around the globe, including here in the U.S., will need to rebuild and replenished, which is why we expect strong demand for well-made PPE through at least the end of 2022,” Greenstein said.

Lydall is also a supplier of thermal and acoustical products, including for buildings and auto end markets. The $622 million company, which has been around for 150 years, reported $764 million of revenue in 2020, a nearly 9% decline from the year prior.

Making supplies for PPE has been Lydall’s main focus the past year, but indoor and outdoor air quality products will be a big driver of business post-pandemic, as it was prior to Covid-19.

Specialty filtration is an important component for the expanding indoor air quality market and a shift to higher efficiency filtration is only expected to accelerate if new and stricter standards are put in place around the world, Greenstein said.

As companies bring employees back into the office, it will create an estimated $3 billion market alone, Greenstein said, adding that another $15 billion market will emerge as buildings are brought up to new codes going into place.

“The demand for higher-performing specialty filtration solutions will dwarf the demand that we’re seeing today for PPE,” she said.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Lydall’s revenues grew double digits in 2017 and 2018 before rising 6.6% to $837.40 million in 2019. The company reported net income of more than $70 million the past two years, though it was posting net income of at least $20 million going back to 2014.

Lydall shares rose 4% Friday to $34.83 at the close. The stock is up 16% through the first two months of the year, extending its gains after rising 46% last year.

 

Will HHS 25 Million Mask Purchase be Similar to  500 Million N95 Respirator Purchase
Last Year?

President Joe Biden will tap the expertise of more than 1,300 community health centers and another 60,000 community health partners as part of the administration’s effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through partnerships to be managed by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD), the administration plans to deliver over 25 million masks to under-resourced communities by way of these community health groups.

“While masks are widely available in many different shapes and sizes, many low-income Americans still lack affordable access to this basic protection,” Jeff Zients, the White House Coronavirus Coordinator, said in a statement to the press. “That’s why we’re taking this important action to keep Americans safe.”

The administration plans to deliver the over 25 million masks across the country in over 1,300 community health centers, which traditionally provide healthcare to low-income individuals, and at over 60,000 food pantries or soup kitchens.

The form-fitted cloth masks, to be made available in both child and adult sizes, will be made available at no cost, Zients said. The masks will be washable and have been made in the US.

The Biden administration said its choice to partner with community health centers and food pantries was intentional. Two-thirds of community health centers treat patients who live in poverty, the administration said.

More than half of community health center patients are racial or ethnic minorities and experience houselessness. These are key demographics that have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for whom key public health resources like masks may be out-of-reach.

Community health centers present a critical outpost for traditionally underserved populations to receive medical care and the public health tools needed to protect themselves from the virus.

Food pantries, too, represent a critical juncture. There is overlap between individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 infection and those who may experience food insecurity. Food pantries are at the center of many communities, providing a trusted resource and a key way to reach out to traditionally underserved or marginalized populations.

This comes as the Biden administration continues to tout equity as central to its COVID-19 strategy.

“Once again, our decisions here have been made with equity at the center,” Zients stated. “Not all Americans are wearing masks regularly. Not all Americans have access. And not all masks are equal. With this action, we are helping to level the playing field, giving vulnerable populations quality, well-fitting masks.”

And on the note of health equity, Zients also doubled down on the administration’s commitment to root its vaccine rollout efforts in equity.

“We’re keeping equity at the front and center of our response, partnering with states, tribes, and territories to increase vaccinations in the hardest-hit and hardest-to-reach communities — increasing supply to convenient and trusted locations, like community health centers. 

The method by which the masks will be purchased and distributed has not yet been made public .  But here is the sequence for the mask purchase in the Spring of 2020.

As part of the government-wide efforts to respond to the global outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services committed  to purchase 500 million N95 respirators over 18 months for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

Through guaranteed orders, this acquisition encouraged manufacturers to immediately increase production of N95s for use by health care professionals. These guaranteed orders offer reassurance to manufacturers that they will not be left with excess supplies if private sector orders are cancelled once the COVID-19 response subsides. Manufacturers typically avoid ramping up production without such a guarantee.

The Strategic National Stockpile is the nation’s largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. When state, local, tribal, and territorial responders request federal assistance to support their response efforts, the stockpile ensures that the right medicines and supplies get to those who need them most during an emergency. Organized for scalable response to a variety of public health threats, this repository contains enough supplies to respond to multiple large-scale emergencies simultaneously.

 

Dony Setting Up Supply Chains for Public Masks in the U.S. and Europe

This came as a result of the company’s plans to beef up its reach and extend its supply chains across counties in Europe and America to ensure easy access to its washable and reusable premium antibacterial cloth mask.

According to Mr. Pham Quang Anh, CEO of Dony Garment Company, the worldwide expansion of Dony’s supply chains is aimed at creating a better alternative to international buyers seeking new suppliers based in nations outside of China to purchase various lines products, especially face masks.

“This year, we have found that many international buyers are seeking new suppliers based in nations outside of China to purchase many goods and products, including reusable cloth face mask and protective clothing (medical coverall disposable, surgical isolation gown),” said Mr. Pham.

Mr. Pham further expresses his company’s readiness to welcome international customers, especially those based in the US, the EU and assure the highest quality supplies, affordable cost, and easy transport of products across the world; “At Dony Garment, we are proud to welcome international customers, especially those based in the US, the EU, and the Middle East market to discover our professional line of products which are manufactured in our factory in Vietnam, especially our new products for COVID-19. We guarantee our products are of the highest quality, at an affordable cost, and easy to transport across the world.”

Dony's supply chains cut across the USA, France, Australia, Belgium, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Macao Malaysia, South Africa, Finland, Greece, Denmark, Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Romania, Portugal, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain.

The Dony Mask is a certified premium antibacterial cloth mask that is washable and reusable yet provides 100% protection against virus and bacterial infections. The three-layer mask has secured certifications from CE, FDA and TUV Reach and has passed almost all of the most world's rigid safety standards. It is made from a three-ply, water-resistant and 99.9% antibacterial cloth to offer uncompromisable protection from COVID-19.

“The Dony Mask offers unbelievable protection from COVID-19 and other viruses, and it is very comfortable to wear. We know health professionals are going to embrace this product because of the many benefits associated with it and because this mask is affordable,” Mr. Pham added.

The outer layer of the mask features a strong water-resistant material that prevents droplets from clinging to the mask, hence, limit the possibility of getting infected by a viral infection.

Its middle layer functions as a filter, while the inner layer provides the most anti-bacterial effects. It is safe, reliable, and highly comfortable to wear all through the day and with a unisex, one-size-fits-all, and breathable design and a variety of color options. “We also know how important it is that a face mask be comfortable,” Pham said. “So, we have designed our masks to be able to be worn for the whole day comfortably in any setting imaginable,” said Mr. Pham Quang Anh.

Some of the unique features of the Dony Mask include:

• Meet all the rigorous requirements for global export and use.
• Its strap could extend 270 percent of the original length, which reduces the discomfort for users when wearing the mask for a long time.
• Sustain anti-bacterial capability up to 99,9% even after 60 washes (no other masks reach this pinnacle yet).
• Equipped with three layers for maximum protection (Antimicrobial Finished).
• Take out packaging and wear without washing (Dony Mask sterilized with E.O gas technology used for Medical Supplies - E.O gas has the ability to penetrate the tiniest of pathways and destroy all kinds of bacteria and viruses).
• Super skin-friendly and tailored to even those with sensitive skin.
• Comfortable for prolonged use as it is odor-free, adjustable, breathable.
• No suffocation issues will be encountered, thus ideal for sports players.
• Filter dust particles and Fungi-proofing.
• Come in different colors that are currently in fashion.
• Resist dust, odor, and UV (The UV-resistance level of our face masks is 99.95%, which is equal to that of premium sunscreen lotions).
• Eco-friendly and Save over 85% vs. disposable mask.

The Dony Garment Company provides distribution for business-to-business (B2B) purposes and even exclusive partnerships, and recently got a new Exclusive Distributor in Canada among other countries in the US and EU.

They also offer corporate logo or label customization to suit any business need. “We try to cover every base when it comes to ensuring each of our business partners has complete trust in our company, our product, and our ability to deliver an amazing product at bulk prices,” Pham said.

On the evening of 5th June 2020, Dony Garment Company and other Vietnamese enterprises have donated medical supplies to the US’s people.

At the Ceremony of Offering Medical Materials to the United States, Dony presented 100,000 antibacterial gauze masks worth more than VND 10.5 billion. Overcoming many businesses that have signed up to give antibacterial masks, through testing, only Dony Mask has met the quality standards for use in the US.

It's a big honor for Dony. Dony Mask is the only available reusable face mask that successfully passes through multiple quality checks, to be accepted for use in the U.S finally.

Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Ambassador in Vietnam has extended his heartfelt gratitude and confirmed that Operation USA Organization which based in Los Angeles, USA will distribute these medical supplies to needed places such as California, New York, etc.

Established in 2009, the Dony Garment Company, a subsidiary of Dony International Corporation, is one of the largest manufacturers in Vietnam for making workwear, uniforms, and casual clothing.

In 2020, DONY responded to the Covid-19 crisis by pivoting its activity to the manufacture of quality compliant PPE and exportation around the world including America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

 

SinglePoint Completes Acquisition of Box PureAir

SinglePoint Inc. a company focused on providing renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient applications to drive better health and living, has completed the acquisition of Box PureAir, LLC which was initially announced on February 25, 2021. With the acquisition completed, SinglePoint plans to leverage Box PureAir's established multi-state exclusive and international rights to sell AIRBOX: an industrial grade, American made, high-proficiency energy-efficient air purification technology. Box PureAir has signed exclusive master distribution rights for AIRBOX.

(PRNewsfoto/SinglePoint Inc.)

Box Pure Air now has over 200 reps through various partnerships in multiple states including Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. The company is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and continues to focus on schools and offices working towards returning to normal operations and continues to deliver solutions across multiple verticals. 

AIRBOX products are designed, built, and certified to government standards, and meet the FDA's enforcement policy guidelines for air purifiers during COVID-19, as well as Department of Education (DOE) requirements, and OSHA, CDC, and ASHRAE conformance. AIRBOX is UL listed and uses only CERTIFIED HEPA filters in all its Safe Air Plan applications. To date, Box PureAir has submitted bids in excess of $50 million to schools across Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and more.

As outlined in a recent article, schools will need to spend time and money improving airflow using HVAC systems, stand-alone HEPA air filtering systems or even just by opening windows if students, teachers and staff are to return safely to in-school learning. "The state of ventilation in schools in the United States right now is woefully inadequate," Richard Corsi, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University, told a forum hosted by The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health." The American Society of Civil Engineers said nearly 41% of schools have issues with HVAC systems, which is a "significant concern."

School facilities (K-12) represent the second largest sector of public infrastructure spending, after highways, and yet there is no comprehensive national data source on K-12 public school infrastructure. Available data indicates that 53% of public-school districts report the need to update or replace multiple building systems including HVAC systems. Meanwhile, public schools increasingly serve a secondary function as emergency shelters and community resource facilities during man-made or natural disasters, and facility upgrades are needed to effectively fulfill this important community purpose. Nearly 41% reported issues with HVAC systems, a significant concern for facilities where children routinely spend eight hours a day. In order to provide healthy and safe 21st century learning environments, it is estimated that the nation should be spending $87 billion per year on capital needs.

"With poor ventilation, viral particles can build up in the air in a classroom, cafeteria or hallway. 'If you look at all the high-profile outbreaks -- same underlying factors -- no masks, low ventilation. It doesn't matter if it's spin class, ice hockey, camps, classrooms, choir practice or restaurants, (it's) the same underlying factors,' Joseph Allen, who directs the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health."

With the continued focus on improving IAQ and ventilation, Box PureAir is committed to providing a solution. Box PureAir has options in development for retrofit solutions into current HVAC systems that will improve the existing system and provide world-class air purification at reduced costs and necessary maintenance to these systems.

"As a company, we are striving to drive better living in health, primarily through providing renewable energy solutions. We believe clean air is an important expansion of our energy efficient environmental platform. While different than solar, we believe this acquisition represents a synergistic opportunity and has the potential to meet the present and growing demand for safe, cost-effective solutions that provide a better air quality environment to schools and commercial businesses. As parents, we should all ask ourselves if our children, teachers and administrators are breathing safe air at school. We believe that the AIRBOX product line, which was designed and engineered based off clean room protocols can provide increased ventilation and clean air to all common area indoor environments including schools. We now look forward to hitting the ground running with the Box PureAir team to help reopen schools and businesses and provide confidence in the air quality in shared spaces," commented Wil Ralston, President of SinglePoint.

AIRBOX's Dynamic Room Purge Technology significantly enhances existing room ventilation systems and can be installed in minutes. The AIRBOX technology purges respiratory aerosols, including bacterial and viral pathogens, from the Breathing Zone and has been scientifically proven to remove >99.99% of all particles, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).  The Dynamic Room Purge Technology increases the air exchange rate by 2-5 times, depending on the size of the room and the number of AIRBOX Purifiers deployed, far exceeding ASHRAE air exchange requirements of standard room ventilation systems alone. AIRBOX is regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency and state governments as a pesticidal device. Accordingly, AIRBOX air purifiers are produced in an EPA-registered facility and packaged and labeled in accordance with EPA regulations under FIFRA section 2(q)(1) and 40 CFR Part 156.

$130 Billion for Schools in New Plan Includes $6 Billion for Masks

On Saturday, March 6^th, Legislators passed The American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan is designed to help quicken the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. Within the American Rescue Plan is a stated $130 billion to safely reopen schools across the nation, including ventilation and improving indoor air quality (Indoor Clean Air, "IAQ") to create safe indoor environments with clean air. 

The President’s proposal covers a broader set of categories than CDC’s non-exhaustive 2020 report. It provides sufficient funds for districts to 1) avoid lay-offs into the next school year and 2) cover the additional costs districts must incur as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary for reopening, including supporting the academic, social and emotional needs of students. A breakdown of this funding is provided in the table below. It outlines the total need— $199 billion—in relevant categories and then subtracts the dedicated relief funding for K-12 public schools in H.R. 133—$54 billion—to come to a total additional need of $145 billion.

These estimates cover the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year and into next school year. Funds are included for next year because we know that in order to invest in safely reopening, districts need financial certainty that they will not have to lay off teachers next fall in order to implement consistent COVID-19 safety protocols. They do not have that certainty right now. Further, school districts that are already open need more support to implement mitigation efforts that protect students, educators, and school staff.

Regular testing also supports safely getting kids back into school. The American Rescue Plan separately calls for $50 billion to scale up our testing capacity, and we expect a significant portion of that funding to support testing for students, educators, and school staff.

The table below lists an “Estimate Source” for each funding category. These sources served as a base for analysis. Since sources often estimated only one year of costs, the listed cost is often higher, accounting for both the remainder of this school year and into next school year. Where possible, a link to the source is provided.

$60 Billion — Avoiding Layoffs: This will be used to close budget holes so districts can avoid lay-offs this school year and next. (Source: Using data from Learning Policy Institute, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, National Conference)

$3.5 Billion — Materials and Consumables: This will provide funds for physical barriers and other materials CDC recommends to keep students safe. PPE costs were removed and are included in PPE below. (Source: CDC)

$14 Billion — Additional Custodial Staff Members. (Source: CDC)

$14 Billion — Transportation: This will support additional transportation investments to provide for social distancing on buses. (Source: CDC)

$6 Billion — Personal Protective Equipment: This will provide PPE for staff, masks for students eligible for free or reduced price lunch, and back-up masks for other students that forget a mask. (Source: Draws on estimates from AFT, CDC, American Association of School Business Professionals)

$50 Billion — Social Distancing (Reduce Class Size): This will increase instructional staffing levels by 10% (conservative estimate). (Source: AFT)

$3 Billion — Health Staff: This will fund nurses at the 25% of schools without a nurse. (Source: American School Nurse Association)

$29 Billion — Extended Learning Time & Support For Students (Tutors, Summer School): This will provide meaningful academic support (for example, 20 days of additional instruction), for all low-income students, or a similar share of the student population. (Source: Learning Policy Institute)

$10 Billion — Counselors and School Psychologists: This will fund a proper ratio of students-to-counselors. The pandemic is taking a dangerous toll on students’ mental health, and many have experienced significant trauma. They need support while learning remotely and once back in school. (Source: American School Counselor Association and BLS)

$7 Billion — Digital Divide: This will fund Wi-Fi hotspots and devices for students without connectivity for remote learning. This cost estimate considers aggressive implementation of HR 133’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program. (Source: Internal estimate, leveraging Census Pulse Survey data)

$1 Million — Community Schools: This will support community schools, which provide a range of wrap-around services and supports to students and families that have been particularly useful during the pandemic. (Source: Internal)

$2 Billion — COVID-19 Educational Equity Gap Challenge Grant: This will provide states and tribal governments with awarded funds to partner with teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to advance equity- and evidence-based policies to respond to COVID-19 educational equity challenges. (Source: Internal)

 

PathO3Gen Foot Sanitizer Protects Cleanrooms, Assisted Living Facilities, and Hospitals

Recorded interviews with PathO3Gen about the advantages of a foot sanitizer are confirmed by pleased customers.

McIlvaine recorded interviews with PathO3Gen focused on the importance of inactivating microbes found on the feet of visitors to facilities at risk. Here are several testimonials from purchasers who have found that the shoe sanitizing station more than met their expectations.

"To help improve our compliance with USP 797 and minimize the risk of pathogens contaminating our Clean room, we added to our department’s action plan your PathO3Gen Solutions Shoe Sanitizing Station.  The stations are now part of our process that each employee uses prior to entering our clean room. Our last Air and Surface samples were negative for any growth in both rooms. We will continue to utilize the PathO3Gen Solutions Shoe Sanitizing Station in our Ante room because the more tools we have to minimize risk for our patients helps us provide safer patient care.

— Jeffrey Miley, Pharm. D., CPh., Director of Pharmacy Services, AdventHealth

 

“The PathO₃Gen Shoe Sanitizing Stations, located just inside the employee entrance and another just inside the front entrance to the main building, allows this assisted living facility to continuously and passively reduce bacterial pathogen transmission reducing infection risk to their residents and employees:  “The response and feedback from our employees, residents and families has been overwhelmingly positive” said Jim Biggins, CEO and Owner of Cypress Creek. Mr. Biggins goes on to say, “Employees are thrilled that we’re doing something to protect the residents that also protects them and their families. Our Residents and their families rave about the PathO₃Gen FSS and love stepping on the FSS for a few seconds to completely sanitize their shoes. One home health nurse told us she no longer keeps an extra pair of shoes in the trunk of her car.” There are many factors to consider when choosing an assisted living facility and the PathO₃Gen FSS helps us maintain our competitive edge.”

—Jim Biggins, CEO & Owner, Cypress Creek ALF

 

"We have updated our HAI rate graphs and the reduction that we've seen since Feb 2019 (PathO3Gen Solutions UVZone shoe disinfection technology implementation date) is 53% through March 2020.  We have always had a lower than expected HAI rate at our facility. However, since the inception of the PathO3Gen Solutions UVZone shoe disinfection technology and other infection control measures, we have reduced our rate by 53%." 

“The safety of our patients is our number one priority, and we are committed to having the most advanced technology to deliver the best care possible,” said Debi Martoccio, Chief Operating Officer of AdventHealth Connerton.

“These sanitizing stations allow us to establish new protocols that proactively prevent infections to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients while they’re in our care.”
--Debi Martoccio, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AdventHealth Connerton