A non-profit organisation, which normally specialises in creating tiny clothes for babies on neo-natal wards, has turned its attention to creating masks over the last week.
Currently, the organisation, Zaubere mat Stoftreschter fir Prematuréen a Stärekanner, cannot hand over its homemade clothing to maternity wards, so the 15 women behind the initiative are now making masks for key workers instead.
Cindy Hary explained they had received several requests from other non-profits, such as the Stëmm vun der Strooss support service for the homeless, and the Autism Foundation. They have also applied on Govjobs.lu and are waiting for government feedback on other ways to help the combined efforts against Covid-19.
It takes the volunteers around 10 minutes to complete a mask, following a pattern chosen by the organisation's president, a professional seamstress. To date, they have made around 600 masks in the last couple of days, using leftover fabric scraps.
The masks are designed to help protect against contracting coronavirus, but, as Minister for Health Paulette Lenert has emphasised before, are not 100% effective. However, they will help protect against droplets and can reduce the chance of the wearer catching the virus. Hand washing and distancing from others are still encouraged in tandem.
Hary said it was important to wash the homemade masks on a regular basis, either on a hot wash or by boiling them for five minutes.
(Video in Luxembourgish)
