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MLB tightening virus protocols, including masks in dugouts

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is cracking down on coronavirus safety protocols, mandating that players and staff wear face coverings at all times, including in the dugouts and bullpens, except for players on the field of play.

The league sent a memo to teams Wednesday outlining changes to its 2020 operations manual after outbreaks on the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals led to 21 postponements in the first two weeks of a shortened 60-game season.

The memo, obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday night, says that repeated or flagrant violators of the protocols could be banned from participating in the 2020 season and postseason.

That includes those who don’t wear face coverings while watching from the dugout. Although such measures were suggested in MLB’s operations manual before Wednesday, some players have continued to not wear face masks, offer high fives, spit and violate the protocols in other ways during games.

Umpires are also being instructed to wear face masks at all times, except when it would make it unfeasible for them to do their jobs.Boston Red Sox Face Coverings

MLB Umpire Injured by Foul Ball Awarded $775K in Suit Against Sporting Goods Company
A District of Columbia Superior Court jury has ordered the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. to pay $775,000 to a Major League Baseball umpire injured by a foul ball that knocked off his Wilson-made face mask.

Ed Hickox, who has since resumed his duties as an MLB umpire, suffered a concussion and several broken bones after a foul ball struck him in the jaw while he was umpiring a Washington Nationals’ game at RFK Stadium on May 14, 2005. The protective face mask Hickox was wearing at the time – manufactured by Wilson and given to Hickox for free by a Wilson representative – flipped off of his head upon impact.

Hickox sued Wilson, claiming the company was responsible not only because the mask failed to protect his face as advertised, but also because the company failed to tell Hickox that the company had not tested the mask with the same rigor they used to test hockey face masks.

“An ordinary customer would expect the umpire’s mask, built to protect the umpire’s face from stray baseballs, not to harm Plaintiff when a baseball strikes the mask,” Hickox wrote in his complaint.

Hickox was represented by Patrick Regan and Paul Cornoni of Washington’s Regan Zambri & Long. Regan, in a telephone interview today, said he was not surprised the jury ruled on Friday in Hickox’s favor, since Wilson maintained that using field testing – that is, seeing how the mask held up while it was worn by umpires and catchers – was sufficient testing.

“They were using the umpires and catchers as human guinea pigs,” Regan said.

Timothy Fizer of Krause, Fizer, Crogan & Lopez in Owings Mills, Md., represented the company. He said an appeal is likely.

The verdict was "obviously disappointing," Fizer said in a phone interview today. "Our position was that the mask was not defective."

Regan said he did not know how many of the face masks in question were given for free to MLB umpires and catchers or sold to the public. He did say that Wilson did do more testing on the mask following the 2005 incident, but did not reveal the results of the test or what, if any, changes were made to the mask’s design.New York Yankees Face Coverings

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Authorities in the South Korean capital on Monday announced a tightening of social distancing regulations, including shutting nightclubs, limiting service hours at restaurants and reducing public transportation.

With face coverings now in heavy demand around the southeast and other areas. Some people have decided to use them as a creative outlets, showing off their favorite teams, schools or bands. Now Braves fans can get in on the action with FOCO rolling out a series of team inspired face coverings.

Do I need to wear a face mask and what’s the difference between the various masks on the market?

Essentially there are 2 main types of face masks. The 3 Ply Surgical Mask and the Respirator Mask. Surgical masks and respirator masks serve different purposes and are designed and manufactured in different ways.

Surgical masks also are known as 3 Ply medical masks are essentially small pieces of cloth people use to keep the germs from their coughs and sneezes to themselves or to prevent picking up other people’s viruses and bacteria.

They are made of 3 layers which serve different purposes. The outer hydrophobic non-woven layer is intended to repel water, blood, and body fluids. The middle melt-blown layer which is the key piece of a surgical mask is designed as the filter to stop germs from entering or exiting the mask. Lastly, the inner soft absorbent non-woven layer is intended to absorb water, sweat, and saliva. These masks are the most affordable and recommended to wear if you are feeling unwell and or around people that might be unwell. It is prudent also to wear when you are likely to be in close proximity to people. These are disposable masks and typically worn between 3 to 8hours per day.

Respirator masks also are known as FFP2 and FFP3 Masks are more robustly designed than surgical masks. They contain a respirator that prevents much smaller particles from passing through to a person’s respiratory system. Three of the most common respiratory masks are N-95, KN-95 masks, and N-99 masks, which, when used correctly, prevent 95 percent and 99 percent, respectively, of airborne particles from entering a person’s mouth or nose. When in very close proximity to people or when working as a first responder or as a healthcare professional, it is advised to wear these more protective masks.

Respirator masks can be further divided into two categories: insulating and filtering. Filtering respirators includes a face piece and a filtering device. The filter element is integrated into the facepiece, sometimes. The mask will either be effective only against particles, only against certain gases, and vapors, or against particles, gases, and vapors depending on the type of filter.

Filtering respirators can sometimes also be provided with an exhalation valve to improve user comfort. The valve prevents moisture inside the mask, misting on the glasses, and helps the user breathe in and out easily. Respirators can be disposable or reusable. In another case, it is possible to replace the filter when it is full. Los Angeles Dodgers Face Coverings