DON’T TURN YOUR FACE MASKS INTO PETRI DISHES
TIPS FOR PROPER CARE AND CLEANING
In the span of a few months, face masks went from being something Americans only saw in hospital settings to an item we can’t leave home without. Since everyday use of face masks is still relatively new in the United States, here are some answers from Johns Hopkins Medicine to common questions regarding the proper care and cleaning of your face mask. ‘How often should I clean my face mask?’ Disposable, surgical face masks cannot be cleaned. Johns Hopkins recommends throwing surgical masks away when they are “visibly soiled or damaged.” If you wear a reusable fabric face mask, then you should wash your mask after each day of use to help prevent bacterial growth. ‘What’s the best way to clean my face mask?’ Earlier this year, a video circulated on social media claiming that you could use a rice cooker to sanitize disposable face masks. This claim is untrue. As stated previously, disposable face masks cannot be cleaned. However, fabric face masks, especially those made of cotton, can be washed with the rest of your laundry. Run them through the washing machine with hot water, then tumble dry on high heat. If you are sensitive to perfumes, use an unscented laundry detergent.
‘Is it safe to hand-wash face masks?’ Since fabric face masks need to be washed after each use, running a wash cycle just to clean a couple of masks can feel pretty wasteful — like doing a load of laundry only to wash the socks you wore yesterday. The Johns Hopkins Medicine website states that you can hand-wash your face masks if needed. Use hot, soapy water to wash your masks, scrub the mask for at least 20 seconds, and dry on high heat in your dryer. ‘Where should I store my cloth face masks when I’m not wearing them?’ Put used cloth face masks directly into the laundry basket when you arrive home to ensure they get cleaned in a timely manner and to prevent you from accidentally spreading germs. Have a sanitized place designated to store clean face masks only. Avoid putting face masks in your pocket or purse.
LINGERING EFFECTS OF COVID-19 Despite Recovering From the Virus
We’ve all seen the reports, social media posts, and articles about how terrible it is for many individuals who catch COVID-19. While many have recovered and can return to their normal lives, that is not the case for everyone. In July, JAMA Network released a study from Italy involving 143 patients who had recovered from COVID-19. Of these 143, 87% of these individuals had at least one lingering symptom. These lasting effects include breathing problems, fatigue, and muscle or body aches, which are the most recurring problems. Quite often, when people are suffering from an illness or injury, they call our office to ask whether they qualify for disability. At times, they do, but sometimes, they don’t. Remember, just because you’ve been diagnosed with a condition or illness, it doesn’t mean you are automatically eligible for Social Security disability benefits, and that includes COVID-19. Getting your diagnosis is the start. The real issue involves the symptoms that remain, despite getting
appropriate treatment, and how those symptoms affect your ability to engage in work activities. The Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances program identifies claims where the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets the statutory standard for disability; however, most conditions are not included on the Compassionate Allowance List. The primary conditions included on the list are cancers, adult brain disorders, and rare disorders that affect children. These conditions are often fatal. The Compassionate Allowance List helps these individuals obtain a quicker review of their application for disability benefits. When a medical condition is on this list, the SSA won’t want or need all of their medical records from the last year or so. Instead, all they might require is a pathology report that documents the particular condition they have. More often than not, this will be enough to convince the SSA office that this person meets the requirements for disability. COVID-19 is not currently on the list.
If you know someone who isn’t already receiving disability benefits, or a family member who contracted COVID-19 and is still unable to return to work, we can help. Our team at Gillette Law Group is here to answer any questions or concerns you might have in regards to the benefits you and your loved ones may receive because of a serious health condition.
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