Technology that can "destroy COVID-19" incorporated into facemasks

Researchers from Freie Universität Berlin and ITA RWTH Aachen, two recognised academic institutions in virology and textiles, have confirmed the efficacy of a new self-disinfecting technology to permanently destroy the new Coronavirus when applied to textiles or surfaces.

This technology, from the Swiss hygiene company Livinguard, has already proven effective in protecting the population when Livinguard Technology is applied to fabrics incorporated into facemasks. Livinguard Technology can continuously inactivate exhaled viruses, including 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2. These scientific results follow on similar findings from The University of Arizona, Tucson. 

Sanjeev Swamy, Livinguard founder and CEO, said: “As governments seek to restart their economies, technology will play an important role in the protection of health and wellbeing. Our masks provide hygiene suited for the modern world. What is truly exciting for us is that this technology has been proven effective and safe for everyday uses, such as for use on airplane seats and public transport, to protect our population in all areas of life. Through this, we hope to be able to open possibilities for governments and public health authorities to move more quickly to re-open, while keeping the populations safe.”

Masks using Livinguard technology are already in use by law enforcement and frontline workers in Singapore, Japan, Germany and the United States, protecting those most vulnerable in the battle against COVID-19. 

Uwe Rösler, Institute for Animal and Environmental Hygiene, said: "Our research has proven that the textiles in these masks can continuously inactivate the exhaled viruses and can make handling these masks even safer overall. In addition, such textiles could also help to reduce hygienic issues in other general and medical areas, even beyond COVID-19."

Beyond facemasks, Livinguard permanent hygiene technology can be applied to any textile and multiple other substrates.