An incoming Biden White House coronavirus advisor promoted a brand of mask he claims “deactivates” coronavirus, claiming on his personal podcast that Livinguard masks offer more protection to their wearers than other products.
“All masks can curb the spread of COVID-19. Why I like the Livinguard masks, and why I wear them, is because they actually deactivate coronavirus thanks to their incredible patented technology that’s been shown to mitigate the spread of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.”
Slavitt confirmed that Livinguard is a “sponsor” to him, in some capacity.
Livinguard masks can be washed and reused, and they sell for as much as $30 on the company’s website. Various manufacturers of facemasks have made claims of health superiority as it pertains to their product.
Slavitt’s claim about the masks is not evaluated by the FDA, and the questionable nature of his claims could potentially incur the scrutiny of the health organization.
The former Obama administration official’s claim that the masks “deactivate” COVID is highly questionable. Experts generally agree that masks are more effective at preventing asymptomatic carriers from spreading the virus than they are in protecting the wearer from it, and Slavitt’s language implies the material of the mask is more effective in neutralizing COVID molecules than other fabric and cloth surfaces. Such a claim would represent a dramatic development in the fight against COVID, and it’s very likely the material would be adopted en masse to deter further spread of the disease.
Is Biden’s incoming coronavirus advisor a for-profit snake oil salesman?
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