Vice President Mike Pence has made an urgent plea to the construction industry and other industries to donate N95 masks to hospitals and health centers to help them fight the COVID-19 virus. Hospital administrators and doctors say they are running low on protective masks that keep healthcare workers and patients safe from the spread of the disease.
N95 masks used by construction companies are effective as substitutes for medical masks that protect people from respiratory diseases. The masks typically worn by drywall workers and painters protect users from fine airborne particles. The N95 designation means the masks can block at least 95% of particles in the air.