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A new surgical mask designed by an Edmonton researcher could help stem the ongoing coronavirus outbreak as the public continues to stockpile supplies.

The mask created by Hyo-Jick Choi, a biomedical engineer at the University of Alberta, will kill viruses on contact.

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Surgical masks are among the items people are stockpiling, leading to stores running low or out of supply since the COVID-19 outbreak has spread globally.

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But Choi said the masks that are currently on the market can actually help spread viruses. Depending on the type of mask, they may not filter out viruses spread through smaller aerosols.

“Humans have a tendency to touch their face every few minutes and improper handling or touching the mask can cause a contact transmission and secondary infection,” said Choi.

“When you touch the mask surface, basically our hands will be contaminated and when you touch other door knobs or other people, there’s a high chance for other people to be infected.”