Well, this is inventive! Also, I want one!

A nationwide shortage of PPE during the coronavirus pandemic has inspired a West Michigan beer distributor to get creative to protect their employees: Ludington Beverage is fashioning face masks out of can koozies.

Tad Reed, president of Ludington Beverage, which is owned and operated by veterans, said in a statement on Facebook,

As an essential business under the governor’s ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ Executive Order, it is important we have critical personal protective equipment, like face masks, so we can protect the safety of our employees and customers. When we learned it would be tough to get face masks, we made our own, which shows the ingenuity, determination and grit of the women and men at Ludington Beverage who have bravely served our country at home and abroad.”

The face masks are made with koozies and rubber bands. Ludington Beverage says the only other material you need are scissors and a sewing machine-- and you can make one in about 3 minutes! The masks are washable and reusable too.

A Ludington Beverage employee made an instructional video on how to make your own.

Shortly after making the masks, the company said a previously placed order of 3-ply medical grade masks arrived. Employees are currently using the 3-ply face masks, and the homemade masks are part of an emergency supply of PPE.

Ludington Beverage also shared the following:

To keep their employees and retail customers safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan’s beer distributors are following protocols and procedures outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) including social distancing, hand washing and cleaning and disinfecting machines and equipment.

Employees are limiting time in stores and using personal protective equipment when they are in stores. Retailers are also encouraged to place larger orders to reduce the number of visits from distributors.

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