FDA Approves Ohio-Company's Mask-Sterilization Technology

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday said they've rewritten some of the agency's rules in order to allow an Ohio-based company begin using a machine that can sterilize up to 80,000 N95 protective masks used by healthcare professionals treating patients with COVID-19, every day.

According to the release sent by the agency, the FDA upgraded the emergency use authorization for the machine from partial to full in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and that it was "appropriate to protect the public health or safety." Originally, the FDA's guidelines said the machine could only be used for 10,000 masks.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had pushed the agency to rewrite the rules that would allow the Ohio-based company, Battelle, to use its new machine they claim can decontaminate N95 masks from the coronavirus, allowing them to be re-used up to 20 times. Ohio has two of the machines, located in Columbus and Beavercreek.

The company sells two types of machines, each one capable of cleaning up to 80,000 masks a day. Hospitals collect their used masks and wrap them in plastic bags before they are sent to Battelle. The company puts the masks through a decontamination cycle, including using a form of concentrated hydrogen peroxide vapor.

The company's CEO, Lewis Von Thaer, said the technology is already en route to some of the states where new masks are needed the most, such as California and New York.

Emergency Field Hospital Set Up in Central Park in New York City

One of the most iconic spots in New York City is being turned into a massive field hospital as hospitals become overwhelmed with patients who have been confirmed to have COVID-19.

Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Christian relief organization began setting up the 68-bed field hospital on Sunday in corporation with FEMA and state and local officials. Four trailers filled with gear that included tents, beds, personal protective equipment and 10 ventilators were brought in to set up the hospital located in the park's East Meadow, along the Upper East Side.

About 70 health care workers from around the U.S. will be a part of the effort.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the field hospital is expected to be up and running by Tuesday.

The field hospital is one of several ways New York is trying to alleviate the pressure on hospitals in New York City. The Army Corps of Engineers have been working to transform Manhattan's Javits Convention Center into a 1,000-bed field hospitals, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanting to build another 1,000-plus temporary hospital in every New York City borough. Cuomo said he also wants to build temporary field hospitals in Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

New York has been one of the hardest hit states by the coronavirus, where they recorded the 1,000 death over the weekend. Officials say they expect that number to rise over the next two to three weeks as the pandemic peaks in the state.

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

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