University Of Arizona Students Make Masks For Hospitals

TUCSON, AZ — Students with the University of Arizona's School of Theatre, Film and Television are doing their part to help address the growing need for protective equipment amid the spread of the new coronavirus.

Several Master of Fine Arts students worked with the school's costume shop manager to provide protective masks to Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, which has given the masks to their health care workers.

Others have requested masks, too, the school's press release said. The Pima County Sheriff's Department, the Tucson Police Department Emergency Response Team, some assisted living communities and veterinarian's offices have also requested masks.

One student, Rachel Wilkins, said working on the masks has helped her not to feel "utterly helpless" amid the pandemic, according to the release.

"Finding out that I can help those who actually can do something was an enormous relief and has given me a renewed purpose," she said in the release.

The "shell-style" masks have two layers, allowing users to fit them over surgical masks and N95 respirator masks.

See the University of Arizona release.