Fully transparent surgical mask cleared by FDA for use during pandemic, company says

People no longer need to hide their smiles during the coronavirus pandemic after the Food and Drug Administration cleared a fully transparent mask for the first time.

ClearMask, a U.S. medical supply company, designed the mask so that the bottom half of your face is fully visible to improve communication while still providing protection against COVID-19, the company’s website says. The mask is “anti-fog” and promises to be comfortable and breathable without sacrificing your health, according to the company’s website.

Covering our faces hinders communication in a number of ways. It’s easier for children to understand their parents and teachers when they can see facial expressions and many hearing-impaired people struggle to understand what others are saying without the ability to read lips.

ClearMask strives to help those groups, along with people who might not speak the same language, communicate while protecting the wearer, its website says.

People can buy the medical-grade ClearMask online in a few weeks, according to the website. The non-medical ClearMask is already available on the company’s website and can be bought in packs of 24 starting at $67.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Fully transparent surgical mask cleared by FDA for use during pandemic, company says."