Innovating Respirators: PPE Lessons for Global Catastrophic Biological Risks

Covid-19 taught us a great deal about respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is relevant for future global biological catastrophic risk (GCBR) events. For example, an equally infectious outbreak of MERS could have caused at least 28.5 million fatalities in the first year of the pandemic.Problems with PPE that arose during Covid-19 include insufficient protection, discomfort, and shortages. Healthcare workers and frontline workers were infected disproportionately often. Causes of discomfort among workers included skin reactions, headaches, and elaborate donning and doffing routines. Worldwide shortages increased this discomfort, as workers improvised with what was at their disposal.One possible solution would be creating strategic stockpiles of reusable, durable, and affordable PPE with high protection and comfort, universal fit, and ease of use. So far, such a product does not exist, but prototypes have been developed, and further innovation could be incentivized. Especially neglected is PPE supply and research for frontline workers not part of the healthcare system. When planning GCBR response, plans must include non-healthcare staff, to keep critical infrastructure from collapsing.