North Korea imported more than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over COVID-19, Chinese trade figures show.Pyongyang last week declared victory over the coronavirus, ending a little-detailed fight against "fever" cases that had risen to 4.77 million in the country of around 26 million people. It has registered no new such cases since July 29.Still, China exported 1.23 million facial masks to North Korea in July, worth $44,307, surging from 17,000 the previous month, according to data released by Chinese customs at the weekend.From January to July, the last month for which data is available, the North bought more than 11.93 million masks from China, data showed.North Korea did not import any COVID-19 prevention and control products from China in May, the data showed.China's overall exports to North Korea surged to $59.74 million in July from $19.05 million in June.Top exports were semi- or wholly milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of natural rubber.North Korea bought $5.16 million worth of semi- or wholly milled rice, $1.98 million of soybean oil and fractions, and $1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, the Chinese customs data showed.China suspended cross-border freight train services with North Korea following consultations due to COVID-19 infections in its border city of Dandong, China's Foreign Ministry said on April 29.

A new study is showing how mask mandates affect COVID-19 case numbers during the pandemic.

Doctors from the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania looked at case numbers in counties weeks after mask mandates were implemented.

The study spanned between March and October of 2020, during the time cases were peaking across the country.

Researchers found that, on average, daily cases declined by 23% four weeks after mask mandates were implemented, in comparison to counties that did not have mask mandates.

Case numbers improved as time went on.

Daily cases decreased by 33% six weeks after mask mandates were implemented, compared to unmasked counties.

The study goes on to show that mask mandates were more effective in urban counties.

The study comes as the CDC prepares to issue new guidance on masks.

The director of the CDC has suggested that the health agency could soon issue a new mask guidance during a news briefing Wednesday.

The change could be announced as soon as next week, as White House officials asked Walensky to provide an update by March 1, before the president’s State of the Union Address.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky suggested the mask recommendations would be based on a community’s hospitalization rates.

She added that this would allow people to take a break from wearing masks when COVID-19 case numbers improve.

However, this would not be a permanent change.

If a community’s case numbers spike up, masks will have to go back on.

Walensky said Wednesday that people should still continue to wear masks in certain situations, including when people are symptomatic or are within ten days of positive diagnosis.

The agency is still working out the details of when masks are and are not necessary.

The change in guidance will come as a number of states announce their own modifications to COVID-19 safety measures.

Last week, ten states announce they were lifting mask mandates in indoor spaces and/or schools.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has expressed support in allowing states to make these changes as cases decrease.

“At the local level, there is a strong feeling of need to get back to normality,” said Fauci on MSNBC.

Employees at Walmart who are vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask at work.

Walmart updated its COVID-19 policy for associates Friday.

In a memo obtained by CNN, the company announced that vaccinated workers will only need to wear a mask if it is required by the state or local government.

Workers who are not vaccinated and those who work in clinical care settings, including pharmacies, will be required to continue wearing face masks.

In addition to these policies, Walmart is also making changes to its sick pay policy.

Previously, associates received extra paid time off beyond sick leave if they tested positive for COVID-19.

Walmart is getting rid of this policy in March, except in places where it is required by the state or local government.

In addition, the retailer will no longer conduct daily health screenings in most places.

Screenings will continue in California, New York and Virginia, where they are required.

Policy changes at Walmart are now in effect.

Federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated mask guidance this week to suggest Americans choose N95 or KN95s if possible, as respirators better stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2 spread this winter.Experts have previously confirmed that Omicron spreads at a faster, more effective rate compared to earlier virus variants, and respirators like the N95 provide those in public a boost in subsequent filtration abilities if worn correctly.Tracking the omicron surge• There are plenty of N95 masks, but they're not designed for your kids• Biden says his administration will make free high-quality face masks available to all Americans• What should you do if someone in your family tests positive for COVID-19? An expert shares advice• Health officials are urging you to rethink your face covering and upgrade masksUnlike cloth masks, however, most N95s and even KN95s haven't been designed to be effectively worn more than once. Like surgical masks, these disposable options may carry instructions to be worn once only — yet, medical experts during the PPE supply shortage in 2020 were forced to use them more frequently, and CDC officers have suggested that multiple uses are acceptable. The frequency, and how these masks end up being reused, often varies among experts."I don't think that the extended reuse of an N95 respirator is really a recommended practice by the CDC," says Kimiyoshi Kobayashi, M.D., chief quality officer at UMass Memorial Health, who explains that respirators were commonly sanitized by doctors using hydrogen peroxide gas and UV light in hospital settings. "I wouldn't recommend any of the practices that were used during the pandemic for consumers."Where's the risk in wearing these respirators more than once, you may ask? And if you decide to take federal health officials' suggestions into account, how many times can you safely reuse a respirator mask? We're breaking down below when you should be changing your N95 or KN95 mask and tips for keeping them sanitary as the pandemic progresses. Can you reuse an N95 face mask?Current CDC guidelines published online suggest that respirators including N95s and alternatives like KN95s shouldn't be worn more than five times. Since they need to be fit correctly, however, some health care experts stress that five-plus uses of an N95 or KN95 may be too many. Issues like the elasticity of the masks' ties becoming loose make fitting a respirator mask to the face correctly near impossible, and that's a possibility after just one use.A more concrete rule you may need to follow, according to Dr. Kobayashi, is checking for a soiled or cruddy mask front. "If you were working in a health care setting, a comparable example would be blood splatter or any sort of fluid — in this instance, maybe it's that your N95 has landed in a puddle on the ground. At this point, it shouldn't be re-worn," he says.If you're particularly high-risk for severe complications stemming from a COVID-19 infection, you may wish to skip reusing masks altogether — this is also true for anyone working in a high-risk environment, like hospitals, retirement homes, or high-trafficked public buildings. At the very least, those who choose to wear an N95 or KN95 mask more than once can reduce the risk of any SARS-CoV-2 exposure by storing respirators correctly. Can you clean an N95 or KN95 mask? What's the best way to extend its use? Previously published CDC-sponsored guidance suggests that N95 masks may be cleaned by heating the mask in a dry oven, or boiled without plastic straps, USA Today reports. But it's widely discouraged since it's likely that you'll damage the construction of the mask or, worse yet, start a fire (masks can't be heated above 158 degrees). Rather, Dr. Kobayashi says doctors often used a dry, secure paper bag to "quarantine" masks for at least four to five days after their use. "It's a simple way to decontaminate the mask, as virus particles will no longer be viable or infectious on the mask at this point," he says, adding that the same approach can be used for KN95 masks. You'll need to be sure that your mask remains isolated from other clean, unused options for at least five days for best results. Using this method, Dr. Kobayashi says you can rotate through a few different respirators at a time, working to save your supply if you're having trouble securing more masks for you or your loved ones.Washing a respirator including N95s or KN95s will invalidate their design, as they're not designed to get wet; don't try washing them in the same way you wash reusable cloth masks.

From the setbacks of COVID-19 comes innovation.

That's what happened when these two brothers from Hemet, California, realized their passion for robotics could help the community.

"It first started as us 3D printing things for our family, because our dad and grandparents see patients and are in the medical field at hospitals, in their office, and at nursing homes. We wanted to help keep them safe," said 12-year-old Tenzing Carvalho.

With their 3D printer, the brothers began making face shields designed by the

UCSF 3D Printed Face Shield Project

.

"This design takes a little longer, because it's FDA approved, and it's more durable," explained 14-year-old Zubin Carvalho.

While they initially set out to help medical workers, the brothers realized early on that many more essential workers could benefit from their face shields.

They noticed volunteers with the Hemet Unified School District were coming into contact with hundreds of people during weekly food drives. While the volunteers were wearing face masks, the brothers wanted to offer them more protection knowing that the virus can spread through the eyes.

"We were scrambling to get the gear to keep our people safe, but we knew we had a higher calling, and we just needed to get this done," said Shannyn Cahoon, principal of West Valley High School.

Cahoon says 100 percent of her high school students qualify for free and reduced meals.

"We don't know what's going on at home right now; we know that some of our families are in a dire situation," said Cahoon.

To help more workers, the brothers needed more 3D printers.

Knowing machines were going unused in empty schools, they managed to convince the staff at seven high schools and eight elementary schools to lend them theirs.

"There's innovation at its best, here's some young children that are not just sitting at home waiting for something to happen. They're making something happen to make lives better for all of us," said Teresa McFarland, principal at Harmony Elementary School.

The brothers are now getting requests from around the country and are recruiting help from other robotics teams, printing 2,500 shields and counting.

They've named the project 'SoCal Face Shields for Frontline Workers'.

"We've also supplied it to custodial, cafeteria, postal and grocery and retail workers," said Tenzing.

To learn more about the project or to donate,

click here

.

Video above: Is your cloth mask protecting you from COVID-19?

At the start of the pandemic, much of the Western world followed a similar playbook for tackling COVID-19.

Spikes in transmission were met with lockdowns; international travel was heavily restricted; and though domestic constraints frequently proved controversial, hygiene measures like social distancing, hand-washing and mask-wearing were strongly encouraged — if not legally mandated.

But those days are behind us. Pandemic management now differs widely from country to country — with the face mask just one example of the world's increasingly fractured approach to COVID-19.

The science behind masks is fairly clear, and has only become more robust over the course of the pandemic. Studies have shown that masks significantly decrease the chances of transmitting coronavirus, and some types of masks can help prevent their wearers from catching the virus.

Yet debates still rage in multiple countries over their use, and some regions have recently removed mandates that people wear them in crowded spaces.

"Masks remain a symbol of a divided society — between those who feel we have restricted too much and those who feel we have not intervened enough during the pandemic," Simon Williams, a senior lecturer on COVID-19 behaviors at Swansea University in Wales, told CNN.

With the prospect of another winter pandemic brewing, some countries are grappling with calls to return to mask use. But they face resistance from people fatigued by endless mixed messaging — and many experts fear that in countries where rules have been relaxed, reimposing mandates could be complicated.

Different approaches

The first days of the pandemic saw early hesitance over the use of face masks from governments and the World Health Organization, amid fears that a rush for masks would leave frontline workers without enough protective equipment. But that as the world learned more about COVID-19, their use became commonplace by the middle of 2020.

"Masks help to filter out aerosol that is generated in our respiratory tract when we breathe or speak. (They) are most effective at filtering out larger aerosol particles and less effective at filtering out the smallest ones," said Bryan Bzdek, research fellow at the University of Bristol's Aerosol Research Centre, summarizing the scientific mechanism behind mask use.

"This is conceptually similar to driving a car when there are a lot of insects about — the large ones tend to impact against the windshield whereas the small ones follow the air flow around the car," he said.

Outside parts of south-east Asia, where mask-wearing had become common after the SARS outbreak in 2002, few countries were used to covering their faces in public. But the unique shock of the COVID-19 outbreak meant behaviors quickly changed, experts say.

"Behavioral scientists and policymakers were quite surprised at how quickly people adopted masks once they were required," Williams said.

"The biggest development in mask perceptions over the pandemic has been an acceptance generally that they protect others as much, if not more, than the wearer," he added.

"The exact benefits in terms of cases prevented and lives saved are still being studied — but even marginal gains are worthwhile when masks are relatively low-cost interventions, in that they are much easier for us than things like distancing or isolating."

But now, despite the body of scientific research into face masks only expanding, countries are heading in various directions.

In the U.S., President Joe Biden has made masks a key pillar of his COVID-19 response. His administration has followed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on mask recommendations, imposing them on federal property and encouraging schools to use them.

But he's faced obstacles from several states. Most recently, Biden's Department of Education has become embroiled in a battle with Florida's Education Department after it decided to reduce funding for certain school districts for requiring people wear masks.

In Europe, mask mandates have become the norm even as several countries saw their COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations come under control, with stricter rules for unvaccinated people attending indoor spaces like restaurants and bars.

Spain, for instance, requires masks indoors when social distancing is not possible. France recently lifted its requirement to wear a mask outdoors, but the rule remains in place for enclosed spaces. And Italians are still required to cover their faces inside or on public transport (the outdoor mask mandate has now been lifted).

However, England, in spite of a stubborn surge in cases since the summer, no longer requires people to cover their faces anywhere — with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving it up to "personal choice."

The psychology behind masks

Experts say that whether most people will wear masks depends largely on the rules that are in place.

"The single biggest influence across all reason of face mask-wearing appears to be the law," said Ivo Vlaev, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Warwick. He cited data from Imperial College London's Covid Behaviour Tracker, the largest rolling study of the societal impact of COVID-19 in the world.

"(Mandating) a behavior helps send out the signal that it is important," Williams added. "Mask wearing is a behavior that is really influenced by social norms — or peer pressure — and so in a setting where masks are no longer mandated, this might influence others not to wear theirs."

"This is well illustrated by the inflection point in the U.K. when compulsory mask wearing was announced," Vlaev said, noting a quick pick-up in mask use last year, and an equally sudden drop since July when the rule was removed. According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly one in five Brits no longer say they wear a face covering outside their home, compared to just 4% in mid-June when they were still mandated.

But when the public takes their cues from the law, unclear messaging can be costly.

Williams said he was initially "surprised" by how quickly people stopped wearing masks in the U.K. in recent months. "It is really down to the mixed messages that many people feel government have been passing on," he added.

"Many countries in Europe have had a more consistent policy on masks and so this makes it become more of a habit over time."

Britain's government now faces a test as it attempts to encourage mask-wearing again, without the backing of a law, as cases rise in the run-up to winter.

The U.K.'s health secretary, Sajid Javid, recently urged people to wear masks in certain situations to avoid future restrictions. But he was forced to admit it was "fair" of the public to wonder why they are now being encouraged to do so, when lawmakers had hours earlier appeared in the House of Commons without face coverings.

Experts doubt whether such guidance will carry as much weight as it did during previous stages of the pandemic.

"As the number of mask wearers falls off, the ability of authorities to enforce mask mandates falls away," said Robert Dingwall, a professor of social sciences at Nottingham Trent University.

It's that thinking that has led most EU countries to impose longer, and occasionally stricter, mask measures.

"People will have learned a new behavior — wearing masks — before 'unlearning it', and then having to re-learn it," Williams said. "This could prove challenging — many people may have gotten used to life without masks."

A new wave of pollution is littering our streets and shores, disposable face masks and plastic gloves.

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has surged around the world, with one study estimating a monthly usage of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves globally.

"The amount of PPE we're finding, even just anecdotally walking through our streets, is astounding," said Alex Ferron, Chapter Chair of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation.

Making matters worse, the pandemic has impacted some of the traditional methods used to tackle pollution.

Last year, Surfrider San Diego's beach clean-ups removed more than 16,000 pounds of trash from the coastline. But with social distancing laws, the nonprofit fears that number will be drastically lower in 2020.

"Plastic pollution hasn't stopped. Plastic is being used, if not more than ever," said Ferron.

The French nonprofit Opération Mer Propre is documenting PPE waste in the Mediterranean Sea, sharing videos and pictures of gloves and face coverings littering the seafloor.

Ferron says the pandemic also reversed other progress made by environmental groups.

"Initially, we saw a big trend away from reusable items at all, my coffee shop wouldn't take my mug, my grocery store wouldn't take my bag."

Ferron says she was OK with this safety precaution early on because little was known about the virus.

But now, she points to some of the latest CDC information, which says COVID is mainly spread from person-to-person, within close contact. Transmission through contaminated surfaces has not been documented.

A health expert statement signed by over 100 scientists around the world stated that reusable systems could be used safely by employing basic hygiene.

To try and tackle the problem, Surfrider San Diego launched a solo cleanup campaign, encouraging individuals to clean old and new waste polluting our communities.

"Empower people to go out and pick up trash. In their neighborhood, in their parks, at their local beach, wherever they feel comfortable, and do their part," said Ferron.

The nonprofit has guidelines on how to do this safely, urging people to wear a mask, use reusable gloves, and a trash grabber if possible. Also, they say to bring two bags to separate PPE from recyclables.

Those who can't get out and clean can do their part by making sure their PPE ends up in a trash can and not the ground.

Ferron says whether or not you live near a beach, you can make a difference.

"It's not just an ocean issue, it's an environment issue," Ferron said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has once again overhauled its mask guidance this week, asking all Americans to go back to wearing face masks in indoor public spaces and in crowded outdoor areas, regardless of vaccination status.

The agency's new mask recommendations come as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread, leading to an uptick in new coronavirus cases across the United States. And since vaccines are still being observed in trials for children under 12, CDC officials also updated guidelines asking all students in grades K-12 to mask up while in school this fall.

The delta variant is more contagious than other forms of COVID-19. People infected with this strain may carry up to 1,000 times more viral airborne particles in their airways than those infected with earlier versions, according to emerging data. While vaccines prevent most to all of the deadly symptoms associated with COVID-19 illnesses, CDC officials did also recently acknowledge that vaccinated people can indeed spread the disease to others around them.

"The best recommendation would be, regardless of vaccination status, to continue wearing a mask to protect your loved ones and yourself against COVID as an added layer of protection," said Dr. Vivek Cherian, an internal medicine physician affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System.

But if you're still wearing the same face masks you rushed to purchase (or even sew yourself) back in the early months of the pandemic, it's important to know these masks are likely less protective than other options available now.

What's the best mask to protect against the delta variant?

Cloth masks made in the first half of 2020 weren't designed as stringently as they are now, and it wasn't until late 2020 and early 2021 that CDC officials began making more stringent mask recommendations to Americans (like in January, when officials asked Americans to consider double-masking). While cloth masks certainly are better than no mask at all when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19, the fit and construction of medical-grade surgical face masks are usually more comprehensive — and currently, they're readily available for consumers.

Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Director Lexie Sachs said that surgical masks are usually made by PPE manufacturers who adhere to strict quality standards that have been in place since long before the pandemic began.

"We know they're typically safer in terms of filtration and fit," Sachs added, as opposed to cloth masks made by fashion retailers who don't usually deal with medical standards in construction. "They're often more breathable as well."

Most crucially, you can rest assured that the medical-grade surgical mask you're wearing is tested to meet standards set forth by ASTM International, an industry group in charge of establishing safety minimums for many products, including face masks.

"You'll know whether or not it's been tested to meet standards — in this case, ASTM Level 3 and more — rather than blindly guessing with most cloth options," Sachs said.

There are also N95 and KN95 masks, otherwise known as respirators, which are known to be more protective than surgical masks. Why? Because they're carefully engineered to prevent large and small airborne particles from specifically penetrating the masks' front. Mayo Clinic officials clarify that while surgical masks can indeed offer filtration on par with or superior to cloth masks, they are primarily designed to prevent fluids and sprays from landing on the wearer in a clinical setting — not particles or aerosols.

While N95 and KN95 masks were largely unavailable at the start of the pandemic — and officials at the Food and Drug Administration still maintain that PPE supply levels are low in crucial categories like respirators — there are more respirator masks available now than there were at the beginning of the outbreak.

In fact, Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, recently advised Americans to consider wearing N95 or KN95 masks, sourced from China, to best protect themselves from COVID-19 exposure in public. "If you're going to consider wearing a mask, the quality of the mask does matter," Gottlieb told CBS reporters. "So if you can get your hands on a KN95 mask, or an N95 mask, that's going to afford you a lot more protection."

"There's no question that [respirators] offer the best protection as they fit more securely and also offer high filtration abilities if you are able to secure those masks," Cherian said. "However, cloth masks are still an effective option [if you can't find a respirator]."

What's the best mask for my child to wear?

As N95s are classified as a respirator, you'll need to fit them tightly across your nose and mouth to ensure proper filtration and effectiveness. Product manufacturers usually include directions for mask wearers to ensure they're using an N95 or KN95 correctly, but depending on which respirator you choose, it may be harder to fit the mask properly, explained Dr. Charles C. J. Bailey, an infectious diseases specialist at Providence Mission Hospital in California.

Because of their encompassing fit, Bailey and other experts caution against children using an N95 or KN95. Respirators can be much harder to breathe in than medical masks or cloth masks, which is especially challenging for kids in active settings or during physical activity. Surgical masks are better suited for children, especially those with respiratory issues or who are particularly active, over ill-fitting N95 or KN95 masks.

Bailey adds that keeping a perfectly fitted N95 or KN95 on a child would be an impractical challenge, and wearing an ill-fitting respirator won't offer any extra protection over other mask choices (this is also true for adults!). Remember: CDC officials still recommend that any child under the age of two refrain from all masks at this time, including those children with pre-existing respiratory conditions that make masks potentially harmful.

How can I shop for the best mask moving forward?

If you're still using the same cloth masks you purchased in 2020, it may be time to consider swapping them out for a respirator or surgical mask — or, at the very least, a newer cloth-based mask, Sachs said.

"The shelf life of a cloth-based mask is typically based on the number of washes, and the brands that conform to ASTM standards should be telling customers this information," she added.

New ASTM International standards were drawn up to give designers and lifestyle brands more direction in creating safer non-PPE cloth face masks. These standards ensure the mask will properly fit over your nose and mouth, can filter airborne particles effectively, and are reasonably breathable for consumers, among other concerns. The Unicorn Breathing Mask is an example of a cloth mask that claims to have been tested and manufactured according to ASTM standards — you'll see clear language indicating this on the brand's digital storefront.

Manufacturers are slowly adapting the way they make their masks so they can meet the standards set forth by the ASTM; if a favorite mask of yours doesn't yet display any ASTM classification, it may be that the masks aren't made sufficiently protective to qualify, Sachs explained.

It's also always best to buy new face masks rather than try to repair a torn or stretched face mask. And if anything is clear, it's that the investment in properly constructed face masks will pay off in the end — it looks like these current CDC guidelines will be in place until all children become eligible for vaccines, and possibly until an overwhelming majority of Americans choose to sign up for a vaccine.