KOSCIUSKO, Miss. (WJTV) — A run of medical masks during the coronavirus pandemic has caused a shortage.
Some neighbors, like Janie Palmertree in Kosciusko, have been sewing cover ups for the with the intention of making them reusable at lightning speed.
“Once I cut ’em all out — I cut out a lot at one time, usually 25-30 — it takes about nine minutes to sew it up,” Palmertree said.
These gadgets are not designed to replace medical masks, but instead to add a layer of protection.
“They would be able to cover these [medical masks], and be able to take these off and wash ’em,” Palmertree said. “They don’t have to discard these every time they went into a patient’s room.”
Thanks to Facebook and support from her church friends, Palmertree is not alone in her efforts.
“Some of the other ladies around Kosciusko said ‘hey I wanna help!’ and messaged me,” Palmertree said. “I told them what I was doing, and I shared my patterns with them.”
Palmertree explained that she had originally wanted to work in medicine, so this is a good way for her to get involved.
“This is my way of being able to give back and I love to sew, that’s my big passion.” Palmertree said. “I can at least do that and I get to stay at home and not have to get out.”
Palmtree said it’s also been a great way to kill time in isolation, and that she will continue to make the cover ups for as long as necessary.