Entrepreneur Uses Time Off Work To Sew Coronavirus Face Masks

PASCO COUNTY, FL —Enterprising people with a penchant for sewing are turning their skills to making cloth masks while stuck at home during the statewide stay-at-home order.

Among them is Courtney Atkins, a licensed clinical massage therapist at Therapy Works Clinical and Wellness Massage in New Port Richey. Atkins suddenly found herself out of work when the state announced that massage therapy was a nonessential service.

With unexpected time on her hands, Atkins began making tie-on face masks make from colorful fabric for health professionals to wear over their surgical masks.

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The face masks are made from 100 percent cotton and contain two layers for added protection. They can be worn alone or used along with a surgical mask.

She said her original intent was to help extend the life of health professionals' surgical masks, which are in low supply. However, she's found a market for her masks among nonprofessionals who now want to protect themselves when they run out for gas or to pick up a gallon of milk.

Now, with both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and even President Donald Trump recommending the wearing of face coverings in public, demand for Atkins' masks are on the rise.

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County is also urging members of the public to wear cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

According to the CDC, a "significant portion of individuals with coronavirus" do not experience symptoms. As a result, these individuals can unknowingly spread the virus to those around them. Cloth face coverings can help prevent those who may have coronavirus and not know it from spreading the virus to those around them."

The CDC adds that using homemade masks frees up the supply of surgical masks and N-95 respirator masks for the health care workers who must use them.

Atkinson has lost count of the number of masks she's made but said she's now happy to put her sewing machine back in storage and prepare to reopen her massage therapy business following the imminent announcement by Gov. Ron DeSantis of business reopenings.

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