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/

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More from @michael_hoerger

Dec 15
PMC COVID Update, Dec 15, 2025 (U.S.)

In the latest CDC data, 15 states have moderate to very high transmission.
🔹1 in 63 estimated actively infectious nationally, rising fastest in the Midwest & Northeast
🔹Very High: Indiana
🔹High: Nebraska, Vermont, Connecticut

🧵1/9 Heat map from CDC data and PMC estimates of 1 in 63 actively infectious and >700,000 new daily infections, based on wastewater derived estimates using models noted in the Technical Appendix at the website listed in the image.
PMC estimates 1 in 26 people in Indiana are infectious and 1 in 39 in Connecticut.

MI, MS, and AR may have higher levels than shown due to poor reporting.

States AL to MS shown.

🧵2/9 Alabama	Moderate	1 in 41 (2.4%) Alaska	Very Low	1 in 220 (0.5%) Arizona	Very Low	1 in 118 (0.8%) Arkansas	Low*	1 in 68 (1.5%) California	Very Low	1 in 382 (0.3%) Colorado	Very Low*	1 in 230 (0.4%) Connecticut	High	1 in 39 (2.6%) Delaware	Very Low	1 in 222 (0.4%) District of Columbia	Very Low	1 in 131 (0.8%) Florida	Very Low	1 in 320 (0.3%) Georgia	Very Low	1 in 275 (0.4%) Guam	Very Low	1 in 426 (0.2%) Hawaii	Very Low	1 in 670 (0.1%) Idaho	Very Low	1 in 108 (0.9%) Illinois	Low	1 in 71 (1.4%) Indiana	Very High	1 in 26 (3.8%) Iowa	Low	1 in 76 (1.3%) Kansas	Moderate	1 in 62 (1.6%) Kentucky	Mode...
PMC estimates 1 in 39 are infectious in both Nebraska and Vermont (coincidence, not typo).

Very few NY sites are reporting to the CDC, so use the NYS website there instead.

States MO to WY shown.

🧵3/9 Missouri	Low	1 in 80 (1.2%) Montana	Very Low	1 in 135 (0.7%) Nebraska	High	1 in 39 (2.5%) Nevada	Very Low	1 in 225 (0.4%) New Hampshire	Moderate	1 in 47 (2.1%) New Jersey	Very Low	1 in 200 (0.5%) New Mexico	Low	1 in 75 (1.3%) New York	Moderate*	1 in 49 (2.1%) North Carolina	Very Low	1 in 226 (0.4%) North Dakota	Low*	1 in 85 (1.2%) Ohio	Moderate	1 in 62 (1.6%) Oklahoma	Moderate*	1 in 47 (2.1%) Oregon	Low	1 in 89 (1.1%) Pennsylvania	Moderate	1 in 55 (1.8%) Rhode Island	Low	1 in 70 (1.4%) South Carolina	Very Low	1 in 215 (0.5%) South Dakota	Low	1 in 86 (1.2%) Tennessee	Moderate	1 in 60 (1.7%) ...
Read 9 tweets
Dec 8
PMC COVlD Update, Dec 8, 2025 (U.S.)
1/9

🔥🔥🔥Very High: Arizona (Yuma)
🔥🔥High: Indiana and Vermont
🔥Moderate: Nebraska and Alabama

Data only go through late November, and levels often increase following Thanksgiving. Heat map and PMC estimates of transmission (1 in 102 actively infectious).
PMC COVlD Update, Dec 8, 2025 (U.S.)
2/9

State-by-state estimates (part 1). Arizona is Very High, but sites were only online in the Yuma area. Indiana remains high.

MI and MS have considerable uncertainty.

DC is exceptionally low. Alabama	Moderate	1 in 47 (2.1%) Alaska	Very Low	1 in 220 (0.5%) Arizona	Very High*	1 in 18 (5.7%) Arkansas	Very Low*	1 in 138 (0.7%) California	Very Low	1 in 574 (0.2%) Colorado	Low	1 in 76 (1.3%) Connecticut	Low	1 in 91 (1.1%) Delaware	Very Low	1 in 307 (0.3%) District of Columbia	Very Low	1 in 5,777 (0.0%) Florida	Very Low	1 in 494 (0.2%) Georgia	Very Low	1 in 180 (0.6%) Guam	Very Low	1 in 289 (0.3%) Hawaii	Very Low	1 in 704 (0.1%) Idaho	Very Low	1 in 121 (0.8%) Illinois	Very Low	1 in 112 (0.9%) Indiana	High	1 in 30 (3.3%) Iowa	Low	1 in 83 (1.2%) Kansas	Low	1 in 105 (1.0%) Kentucky	Very L...
PMC COVlD Update, Dec 8, 2025 (U.S.)
3/9

State-by-state estimates (part 1). Vermont remains High. Tennessee has fallen rapidly from a quick surge.

Data quality are low in NY. Missouri	Very Low	1 in 176 (0.6%) Montana	Very Low	1 in 136 (0.7%) Nebraska	Moderate	1 in 45 (2.2%) Nevada	Very Low	1 in 372 (0.3%) New Hampshire	Very Low	1 in 109 (0.9%) New Jersey	Very Low	1 in 217 (0.5%) New Mexico	Very Low	1 in 118 (0.8%) New York	Very Low*	1 in 260 (0.4%) North Carolina	Very Low	1 in 233 (0.4%) North Dakota	Low*	1 in 101 (1.0%) Ohio	Low	1 in 70 (1.4%) Oklahoma	Low*	1 in 68 (1.5%) Oregon	Very Low	1 in 150 (0.7%) Pennsylvania	Low	1 in 89 (1.1%) Rhode Island	Very Low	1 in 187 (0.5%) South Carolina	Very Low	1 in 144 (0.7%) South Dakota	Low	1 in 82 (1.2%) Tennessee	Very Low...
Read 9 tweets
Nov 23
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵1/10

With CDC data operational again, the transmission map is back. The data are always a week old, so transmission is likely worse than depicted.

We estimate 1 in 116 people actively infectious and 422,000 new daily infections. Heat map: Indiana and Arkansas with "moderate" transmission. All others, "low" or "very low" (CDC categories).
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵2/10

State level estimates are back. Note, the CDC changed their data processing approach in August, which tends to downplay transmission.

Does 1 in 45 in Indiana seem "moderate"?

Levels in MI may be mod/high (poor reporting). Alabama	Very Low	1 in 153 (0.7%) Alaska	Very Low	1 in 272 (0.4%) Arizona	Low	1 in 63 (1.6%) Arkansas	Moderate*	1 in 47 (2.1%) California	Very Low	1 in 365 (0.3%) Colorado	Very Low	1 in 137 (0.7%) Connecticut	Low	1 in 103 (1.0%) Delaware	Very Low	1 in 262 (0.4%) District of Columbia	Very Low	1 in 418 (0.2%) Florida	Very Low	1 in 408 (0.2%) Georgia	Very Low	1 in 292 (0.3%) Guam	Very Low	1 in 887 (0.1%) Hawaii	Very Low	1 in 426 (0.2%) Idaho	Very Low	1 in 116 (0.9%) Illinois	Very Low	1 in 116 (0.9%) Indiana	Moderate	1 in 45 (2.2%) Iowa	Very Low	1 in 108 (0.9%) Kansas	Very Low	1 in 109 (0.9%) Ke...
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵3/10

State-level estimates (continued).

Current levels may be much higher than noted here. Note that CDC data are always at least a week old. The 2nd half of November is a time period historically of accelerating transmission. Missouri	Very Low	1 in 202 (0.5%) Montana	Very Low*	1 in 114 (0.9%) Nebraska	Low	1 in 95 (1.1%) Nevada	Very Low	1 in 228 (0.4%) New Hampshire	Low	1 in 78 (1.3%) New Jersey	Very Low	1 in 192 (0.5%) New Mexico	Very Low	1 in 151 (0.7%) New York	Very Low	1 in 212 (0.5%) North Carolina	Very Low	1 in 212 (0.5%) North Dakota	Very Low*	1 in 116 (0.9%) Ohio	Very Low	1 in 109 (0.9%) Oklahoma	Low*	1 in 70 (1.4%) Oregon	Very Low	1 in 194 (0.5%) Pennsylvania	Very Low	1 in 111 (0.9%) Rhode Island	Very Low	1 in 167 (0.6%) South Carolina	Very Low	1 in 112 (0.9%) South Dakota	Very Low	1 in 127 (0.8%) Tennes...
Read 10 tweets
Nov 8
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
1/6🧵

🔹301,000 new daily infections based on wastewater-derived models
🔹1 in 162 people (0.6%) actively infectious
🔹Levels the past 2 months corrected upward by Biobot
🔹"Lull point" estimated between Nov 5-21. Rising soon. Year over year graph, emphasizing that levels commonly rise in mid November
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
2/6🧵

The central estimate of the forecast suggests we will surpass 500,000 new daily infections on Nov 22.

There's a 25% chance of a prolonged lull like last year. More likely, we are in wave territory by the end of the month. Close up of the most recent 3 months of data, including the forecast.
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
3/6🧵

We are presently in a lull between the 11th and 12th wave. Now is the time to get boosted and stock up on N95 masks, tests, and air purifier filters.

Do a DIY fit test if you've been putting it off. Graph of the 11 waves
Read 6 tweets
Nov 3
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
1 of 9 🧵

The relative "lull" in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is unlikely to go much lower.

✨1 in 209 people are estimated actively infectious, likely the lowest levels of 2025 nationwide.

Get boosted. Stock up on masks, tests, & filters. Year-over-year graph
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
2 of 9 🧵

No data presently suggest the rise of a winter wave any earlier than "usual."

If following historical trends, transmission will pick up Nov 15-29. Last year's rise was atypically late. Forecasted transmission
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
3 of 9 🧵

Expect rising misinformation/disinformation as transmission heats up:
🔹Abuse of community notes, particularly surrounding wastewater methodology
🔹Paid bot army attacks, especially about boosters & masks
Read 9 tweets
Oct 28
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)

Transmission typically accelerates in mid-November.

We are currently in a relative 'lull.' We estimate about a quarter-million new daily infections with 1 in 185 people actively infectious. Still bad, likely to get worse.

1/9 🧵 year over year graph
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)

Our forecast through November 8 calls for flat transmission.

Nothing yet indicates the onset of a winter wave, but it would also be atypical for the lull to last much longer than another 2-3 weeks.

2/9 🧵 Graph of recent transmission and current forecast
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)

We estimate 264,000 new daily infections during this 'lull' period.

Biobot data have returned. Our substitute data from WWS last week correlated r=.97 (near perfect) with that, but Biobot did retroactively increase recent estimates.

3/9 🧵 Graph of the 11 waves of the pandemic
Read 9 tweets

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