key: cord-0729240-k8ko5sfk
authors: Elkington, Paul; Morgan, Hywel
title: Personal respirators for population level control of the COVID19 pandemic
date: 2020-05-06
journal: J Infect
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.044
sha: bbbceb0f4e9bfbf3ec398ab7868ef88b723e7f09
doc_id: 729240
cord_uid: k8ko5sfk

nan

personal respirator. Widespread use of personal respirators has not been possible to date due to their complexity and limited supply. We have developed a simple personal respirator in Southampton (PeRSo), made from cheap, mass-produced components (7, 8). The motor unit fan pulls air through a high efficiency filter, powered by rechargeable batteries. The clear air is delivered into a hood with a clear plastic visor, and passes standard sniff and bacterial tests ( Figure 1 ). We have initiated manufacture locally and are aiming to roll out widely in the United Kingdom, and are investigating components suitable for local production in the developing world (PeRSo-DW). Evidently, implementation challenges exist, but the alternative of waiting for a vaccine indefinitely seem worse in terms of economic impact. As a control strategy, PeRSo use outside the house would be compulsory in areas with active transmission. Once the cycle of transmission is broken, respirator use would be optional. Strengthened public health screening would be required to identify breakdown areas, leading to travel restrictions and return to compulsory PeRSo use. Humans would all look highly unusual, but SARS-CoV-2 would be controlled and this would act as a bridge to a new vaccine or drug therapy. Whilst the costs may seem high, compared to the economic costs of a prolonged lock-down, this is trivial.

We propose the PeRSos should be mass produced and deployed to healthcare workers in areas of SARS-CoV-2 transmission urgently. Later, wider use could be considered, such as in roles involving frequent interpersonal contact. Ultimately, this will permit a return to normal vaccine becomes available, just as a bed net protects in malarial regions. Public health interventions of increased surveillance and compliance with regular hand hygiene, in particular before and after removing the

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