Effective today, (6.1.20), the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) stopped distribution of the black, knitted face masks provided by the State because of a chemical treatment. They have been available free at Lakeland City Hall.
Joan Carr, public information office for the SCHD, said, “The masks, manufactured by Renfro Corp., were treated with a chemical called Silvadur. Silvadur is an anti-microbial agent applied to fabrics to reduce the growth of odor-causing bacteria. According to the manufacturer, only trace amounts of the chemical are applied to the fabric and the chemical diminishes each time the mask is washed. According to the manufacturer, only trace amounts of the chemical are applied to the fabric and the chemical diminishes each time the mask is washed.
Three hundred of these reusable masks were given to Lakeland and made available to residents and businesses free in May.
Shane Horn, city manager, said the City will no longer distribute those masks until further guidance is received. The City also has a number of disposable masks which are available at City Hall, 10001 U. S. Highway 70, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ms. Carr said until more information is made available about Silvadur and its application to the masks, SCHD has stopped all distribution of the masks and is asking partnering agencies to also stop distributing them.
Anyone who has one of the masks and has safety concerns about it, should stop wearing it and wear an alternative facial covering.
Renfro Corp., which usually makes socks, has a manufacturing and distribution facility in Cleveland, TN. In a partnership with Gov. Bill Lee’s Unified Command Group, the company received an $8.2 million contract to manufacture the cloth masks, as announced May 5th by the State.
Saturday the Hamilton County Health Department (Chattanooga) suspended distribution of cloth face masks.
The Metro Nashville Health Department cancelled distribution events Saturday, awaiting information from state health officials on the masks.
Facial coverings are recommended to be worn in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain. A cloth facial covering may be as simple and inexpensive as a bandana or scarf tied around the back of the head to cover the nose and mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information and guidance about facial coverings, including instructions for making a cloth facial covering, on its website here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.
For more information about COVID-19 and the use of facial coverings, please call the Shelby County Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline 833-943-1658 or visit the Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage: shelbytnhealth.com/coronavirus.
… Photo by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
