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

.

New safety measures are now in place at airports across the country.

“Anyone in the airport must wear a mask at all times while in the airport,” said Stacey Stegman, spokesperson for Denver International Airport.

While travel is down, new safety options are going up after vending machines offering personal protective equipment arrived.

“It’s new, it’s different and it’s a stark reminder of the world that we are in today and traveling under these circumstances,” Stegman said.

The price for PPE is $6 for two surgical masks with hand sanitizer and a tray cleaner, and $12 for two KN95 masks, hand sanitizer and a tray cleaner.

“If it takes the masks to get our concerts back, then I’m all for it,” said Brad Michaels, who has traveled the world as drummer for the band Good Charlotte.

Michaels flies private as often as possible but while traveling commercial, he says protection is a priority.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said of PPE vending machines. “I think the price is a little ridiculous: two masks for $6 but we’re at the airport, so.”

Now more airports like McCarran International in Las Vegas are also carrying these PPE vending machines.

In New York City, PPE vending machines have hit the streets and have even gone underground.

David Edelman is with Rapid Mask2Go. He noticed a demand for PPE and installed these vending machines across the city with plans to expand across the East Coast.

“This was a cost effective, quick way to get more masks in the hands of as many people as possible,” he said.

Because whether on the subway or in the sky, this is the new norm of traveling during the COVID-19 era.

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.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal agents have seized roughly 10 million fake 3M brand N95 masks in recent weeks. It's the result of an ongoing investigation into counterfeits sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies.

Officials say the most recent seizures occurred Wednesday when Homeland Security agents intercepted hundreds of thousands of counterfeit 3M masks in an East Coast warehouse that were set to be distributed.

Investigators also notified about 6,000 potential victims in at least 12 states including hospitals, medical facilities and others who may have unknowingly purchased knockoffs, urging them to stop using the medical-grade masks.

The phony masks are not tested to see whether they meet strict N95 standards and could put frontline medical workers at risk if they are used while treating patients with COVID-19.

Nearly a year into the pandemic, fraud remains a major problem as scammers seek to exploit hospitals and desperate Americans.

Federal investigators say they have seen an increase in phony websites purporting to sell vaccines as well as fake medicine produced overseas and scams involving personal protective equipment. The schemes deliver phony products, unlike earlier in the pandemic when fraudsters focused more on fleecing customers.

Officials encouraged medical workers and companies to go to 3Ms website for tips on how to spot fakes.