This is such an insane problem. I've been trying to source N95s and everyone I've talked to, even very reliable people, keep bringing me counterfeits without realizing it.

I'm actually really concerned their physicians are using those N95 masks.

Thankfully face shields are less of a risk.

Some commentators, disproportionately Silicon Valley VC types, are absolutely befuddled at why the FDA needs to exist and why regulations are slowing things down.

It's like they can't imagine a crisis worse than COVID being created by a sloppy and irresponsible response (exempting, of course, responses that hurt their investment portfolios, all of which are bad).

Oh wow. I think it's easy to "fix" it: give them a pill (of actually sugar) but present it as a cure that you developed in your basement to whatever ailment they have. Skin in the game works wonders on such cheap bullshitters.

Also please post links, always good to know whom to avoid.

Speaking as a physician who's been handed a lot of respirators from ever more dodgy sources, how do I tell whether I'm given a counterfeit N95?

The CDC has a great page [1] on fake N95 masks, including details at the bottom on identifying real ones. They also provide a list of everyone who is approved to make them [2].

1. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/counterfeitResp....

2. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part...

Good, that means more are available for purchase and that this design is easy to replicate.

In this case, that's great news

Great news with this important caveat -- that they work as effectively as the Apple's original design and can take hydro/chemical stress from multiple power-washes using strong disinfectants and other industrial-grade cleaners.

That is a good thing - Apple clearly isn't making them as even a revenue making object, let alone a profit center, so I can't imagine they'll object to others also manufacturing them.

The goal at the moment for global manufacturing to produce PPE and masks in huge numbers as fast as possible. Not to create new sources of revenue.

It's a PR making object

I don't think anyone who replied to you realized this was a joke.

Where? All I see are ones using a piece of foam as a spacer.