Startup Herogard markets FDA-approved face masks
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, disposable filter face masks are now available for sale by health and wellness startup Herogard. Masks will be donated to essential workers with every purchase made through the company’s website.
Herogard was founded by scientists, doctors, and engineers in Rochester. Their goal is to “flatten the curve” by getting FDA-approved, protective face masks to individuals.
The masks are produced in southern China and are different from the N95 masks used for healthcare personnel. However, these provide a good alternative for individuals, since research has shown that medical face masks are three times more effective at blocking small particles than cloth masks. Fused fibers are used in the masks that create nano-size pores, which ultimately trap a higher percentage of the virus’ particles while still allowing for airflow.
Those who are asymptomatic can still unknowingly pass the virus to others by speaking and exhaling. Wearing a mask reduces the act of face touching which can also lead to infection. In fact, the average person unknowingly touches their face an average of 2.5 times per minute.
“SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) does not care about your ethnicity, where you live, what’s in your bank account, borders, or languages. At the end of the day, we have a shared humanity,” said George Zheng, founder of Herogard. “I’ve lost count of how many people have expressed a deep urge to help. We have a collective responsibility to ensure the well-being of our world, in addition to social distancing and staying home.”
Zheng grew up in Ithaca, as the son of Chinese immigrants, where his father was a cancer researcher at Cornell University. His passion to improve worldwide well-being pushed him to champion the health benefits of superfood mushrooms, as well as jumpstarting his idea for Herogard.
Masks will be donated to essential workers and marginalized communities with every purchase made. The first beneficiary of mask donations is Rochester-based Foodlink, the regional food bank serving 10 counties in the Rochester and the surrounding Finger Lakes region.
Herogard masks are already trusted by the Government of Germany, the Municipality of Shanghai, and Rochester organizations that include Wegmans, Love Beets, Leep Foods, and Foodlink, officials say.
Masks can be purchased in packs of 25 for $30. Visit Herogard.com to place an order or for bulk inquiries.