Making and using protective masks is an effective way to fight against COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic. A group of three students, Raj Praveen, Venkadasubramaniyan and Harisudhan, pursuing Mechanical Engineering degrees from the School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, has developed face masks for fighting against the COVID-19.

This mask is reusable and the filtering element can be changed as needed. This device can be used in varying situations by only changing the filtering element.  With any simple piece of cloth for a filtering element,  a common person can be benefited.This same mask, with an advanced filtering element, can benefit doctors and other medical personnel, as it provides an integrated foolproof system that protects the user from exposure to microbes through mucus-filled regions of nostrils, mouth and eyes.

“We understood the scarcity of 3ply and n95 masks in the country when Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people to use homemade masks. Following our Chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the path of wisdom was keen to produce this reusable mask cheaply so that the poor and needy can benefit from it,” shared Raj Praveen.

“This project would not have been possible without the support of our Dean, Dr. Sasangan Ramanathan, and our department Chairperson, Dr. Thirumalini S. We look forward to working with them until these devices reach every human in need,” he added.