Honeywell To Increase Production Of N95 Masks In RI: Coronavirus

SMITHFIELD, RI — A Rhode Island manufacturing facility is working to help meet the high demand for personal protective equipment for healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Honeywell's Smithfield facility will create N95 masks for the nation's stockpile, the company said in a release.

"We are honored to support the U.S. government’s efforts to protect Americans with personal protective equipment made right here in the United States," said Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell's CEO. "Our Rhode Island facility already produces industry-leading safety gear and soon will play a critical role in supplying the Strategic National Stockpile with N95 masks."

The Smithfield facility, which also makes safety glasses, will expand its operations, the company said, creating approximately 500 new jobs. Hiring and training will begin immediately, the company said.

The finished masks will be sent to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be distributed to healthcare workers.

N95 masks, which are technically respirators, are tight-fitting and offer more protection than a traditional mask, filtering out 95 percent of particles in the air. They "reduce the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles, from small particle aerosols to large droplets," the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention said.

Honeywell has also stepped up mask production at other facilities around the world, the company said.