[doodlebugging]

Thanks for the information. I agree that home microwaves heat unevenly but I think that is one of the reasons that the authors in the article went with bagging the masks. The steam would be trapped in the bags and the masks would get treatment at a more consistent temperature making the process more effective at killing the pathogens.

I think that microwaving the masks accomplishes the task using tools that an ordinary person may already have on hand and tools which require almost no training. UV sterilization is complicated by the need to avoid exposure to UV light and the fact that most people don't have a suitable UV lamp available. Hospitals may already have those tools on hand and in that case they probably have trained users who can disinfect masks with them. That seems to be the best way for them to reuse masks.