Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA Profile picture
Nov 14, 2022 9 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Cloth masks could be customized to look amazing. BUT they offered weak protection (poor filtration, many gaps).

What if you could safely customize an N95 or #BetterMask with a small logo, decal, or other decoration?

THREAD 🧵

1/ 3M N95 with monotone cancer ribbon (or interpret as another
H/T 🎩 to @amandalhu for recommending rub-on “dry transfers.”

Follow her & see her amazing thread of several examples. Very fun, especially for kids. Many pre-designed options.


2/
But can dry transfers be customized?

YES. I ordered a 6” x 6” sheet with >50 monotone #cancer ribbons from @stickermule. Cost about $20. Price goes waaaaay down the more you order. Comes with free hot sauce for some reason.

If you find other deals, please post.
3/ Sheet of dry transfers with >50 cancer ribbons.Randomly comes with hot sauce. Probably don't want to eat ri
Cut it out. Peal off the back. Press on the mask. Use a chopstick, spoon, or pen cap to rub on. Push against a hard surface.

It was too soft through the multiple mask layers, so I inserted a wooden block.

Peel off carefully. Then set the backing on top & rub once more.
4/ Dry transfersDry transfer placed on N95Set a hard object on the opposing side of the maskGrab something with hard plastic (these are children's chops
I run a #cancer research program.

My friend and collaborator Twitterless Jim Gerhart suggests in our forthcoming publication that we mask with health symbols to remind people that masking is a healthy choice, not a political one. So, I am testing these out.
5/ Wearing an N95 with dry transfer of a monotone cancer ribbon
Also added a ribbon to my @Flo_Mask.

The Flo Mask passes an at-home qualitative fit test with ease, unsurprisingly b/c @NgoTheWorld has meticulous attention to detail. Of course, you could just put a sticker on the non-filter part. 🤣
6/ Flo Mask with monotone cancer ribbon
Are N95s with small dry transfers safe? Yes, they are dry and block minimal surface area. No wet ink or alcohol used.

My go-to expert on mask failure -- @ghhughes -- approves.


7/
My masks still passed a fit test after putting on the dry transfers. No surprise.

FYI, to fit test, you just need a nebulizer & fit test solution (e.g., 3M FT-32). Spray near the problem areas (cheek, nose, chin). Breath through the mouth. If you taste bitter, bad fit.
8/ Nebulizer and 3M FT-32 fit-test solution
What did I miss? Have any good suggestions for pre-made rub-on dry transfers? Any good deals on customizable options? Questions on specifics?
9/

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA

Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @michael_hoerger

Mar 31
🧵1 of 5
PMC Dashboard, March 31, 2025 (U.S.)

🔹800-1,400 deaths expected to result from this week's infections (new stat, see video next Tweet)
🔹100,000+ Long Covid conditions to result from this week's infections
🔹1 in 142 actively infectious todayCurrent Levels for Mar 31, 2025	 % of the Population Infectious	 0.7% (1 in 142)	 New Daily Infections	 337000	 New Weekly Infections	 2359000	 Resulting Weekly Long COVID Cases	 118,000 to 472,000	 Resulting Weekly Excess Deaths	 800 to 1,400	 	 Monthly Forecast	 Average % of the Population Infectious	 0.8% (1 in 120)	 Average New Daily Infections	 397233.3333	 New Infections During the Next Month	 11917000	 Resulting Monthly Long COVID Cases	 596,000 to 2,383,000	 Resulting Monthly Excess Deaths	 4,300 to 7,100	 	 Running Totals	 Infections Nationwide in 2025	 52303000	 Average Number of ...
🧵2 of 5
PMC Dashboard, March 31, 2025 (U.S.)

This video explains U.S. COVID excess death statistics, which we have incorporated into the dashboard.

🧵3 of 5
PMC Dashboard, March 31, 2025 (U.S.)

The transmission forecast suggests 300-500k daily infections the next month. If the data get retroactively corrected downward, we could dip to 200k.

Check local dashboards, and time events accordingly.Forecast graph, described in post
Read 5 tweets
Mar 31
PMC Update on #ExcessDeaths

🔥109,000-175,000 people in the U.S. are expected to die as a result of COVID in 2025, based on estimates derived from Swiss Re
🔥COVID deaths expected to be on par with lung cancer in the U.S. in 2025
🔥Death data added to the dashboard
2) Full video links to learn more about COVID #ExcessDeaths in the U.S.

Dashboard page (presently featured): pmc19.com/data
Downloadable file: pmc19.com/data/deaths033…
Veed platform: veed.io/view/558039f4-…
3) The new #ExcessDeath statistics build on what we described in the 5-year pandemic anniversary video.

Watch from 12:14-20:00 to see how simplistic models underestimate COVID deaths. The Swiss Re model solves that problem. PMC extends that work.
Read 6 tweets
Mar 24
PMC Dashboard, Mar 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵1/5

🔹3 million new weekly infections in a persistent "lull" of substantial transmission
🔹1 in 107 (0.9%) of the population actively infectious
🔹1 in 3 regions in high/very high transmission (16 states and DC)Heat map of transmission, described in Tweet
PMC Dashboard, Mar 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵2/5

We have had a steady state of about a half million infections the past several weeks. That's over 50 million estimated infections so far in 2025.

In a room of 40-50 people, there's a 1-in-3 chance of exposure if no testing/isolation.Current Levels for Mar 24, 2025	 % of the Population Infectious	 0.9% (1 in 107)	 New Daily Infections	 446000	 New Weekly Infections	 3122000	 Resulting Weekly Long COVID Cases	 156,000 to 624,000	 	 Monthly Forecast	 Average % of the Population Infectious	 1.0% (1 in 96)	 Average New Daily Infections	 496566.6667	 New Infections During the Next Month	 14897000	 Resulting Monthly Long COVID Cases	 745,000 to 2,979,000	 	 Running Totals	 Infections Nationwide in 2025	 50757000	 Average Number of Infections	 Per Person All-Time, U.S.	 3.708526284	 	 How Does Risk Increase with More Social Co...
PMC Dashboard, Mar 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵3/5

There's a good chance of steady transmission the next month. Often, we'd head into a low lull about now. BUT there are no universal precautions, immunity is waning from the fall & winter 2023-24, & viral evolution looks less 'lucky.'Middle forecast shows 400-600k daily infections.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 11
1) 5-yr Anniversary of the WHO Pandemic Declaration

🔥10 waves
🔥Covid mortality rivals lung cancer
🔥8 infections/person by 2030
🔥Long Covid as catastrophic
🔥Death trajectories becoming complex
🔥"During Covid" as anti-science rhetoric
🔥Serious ppl take Covid seriously
🧵
2) Wastewater-derived estimates of case rates show international consensus 20-26% of populations got Covid during the peak 2 months of the 2023-24 winter wave in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
3) The ratio of reported cases versus true cases has remained consistent, demonstrating the validity of wastewater-derived estimates. True cases are 15-30x reported cases, a consistent ratio. There are no examples demonstrating low case rates.
Read 25 tweets
Feb 26
1) Mardi Gras 2020 was 5 years ago today. ⚜️

It was before the pandemic declaration, before the federal government recommended masking.

COVlD spread quickly through New Orleans, leading to one of the highest mortality rates per capita in the U.S.... Timeline showing Mardi Gras 2020 just 4 days before the first known reported death of C19 in the U.S.  Note. "Peak" diagnoses refers to the peak of the 1st wave.
2) New Orleans service workers were disproportionately hit by the early pandemic. Many died. Many developed #LongCOVID at the time or have now through repeat infections. Many have switched to other sectors....

3) The sad fact is that many service workers are continuing to get #LongCOVID through repeat infections today because the pandemic is ongoing and many restaurants have high occupant density and horrendous air quality....

Read 4 tweets
Feb 17
1) PMC COVlD Dashboard, Feb 17, 2025 (U.S.)

🔥1 in 72 actively infectious
🔥Sustained high transmission
🔥30 states in high/very high transmission (CDC)
🔥3x the transmission of Feb 2021
🔥668,000 daily infections
🔥Only 1 in 28 cases reportedGraph shows 10 waves of the pandemic.  Tables summarized partially in post. Additionally, transmission is higher than during 59% of the pandemic.  How Does Risk Increase with More Social Contacts? Number of People | Chances anyone is infectious 1	1.4% 2	2.8% 3	4.1% 4	5.5% 5	6.8% 6	8.1% 7	9.4% 8	10.6% 9	11.9% 10	13.1% 15	19.0% 20	24.5% 25	29.7% 30	34.4% 35	38.9% 40	43.0% 50	50.5% 75	65.2% 100	75.5% 300	98.5%
2) PMC COVlD Dashboard, Feb 17, 2025 (U.S.)

This is a mid-sized wave, meaning substantial transmission. Notice that transmission remains steady at high rates.

Expect steady or slightly declining transmission, unless the real-time data are retroactively corrected.Two graphs, showing year-over-year transmission and the forecast, summarized in the post.
3) PMC COVlD Dashboard, Feb 17, 2025 (U.S.)

Notice that 30 states remain in high/very high transmission, per CDC categories.

This is the same as last week. Transmission is 3x higher than in Feb 2021, when people were taking more precautions around masking and testing.Transmission heat map and CDC line graph of regional variation in transmission.
Read 5 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(