Construction Industry Low on Masks

Concerns over contracting the coronavirus has created a run on face masks, causing a problem for some construction businesses.

Joe King, owner of 1st Patriot Enterprising in Evansville, Ind. has seen the issue first hand. His painting company uses the masks every day, but he is one of a number of business owners seeing their supplies running out. “Anyone involved in drywall or painting, will constantly need a protective mask of some kind," King told a local NBC news station.

Ironically, the commonly purchased N95 masks are not effective for bacteria or viral protection. Instead they are made solely to keep dust and other particulents out of the lungs. US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has stated that wearing a face mask can actually increase the risk for many people. "Folks who don't know how to wear them properly tend to touch their faces a lot and actually can increase the spread of coronavirus," Adams said during a March, 2nd interview on Fox & Friends.