MASKS 2 (IMAGE) Rice University Caption Rice University graduate students Faye Yap, left, and Zhen Liu characterize a mask sample. Researchers at Rice and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, have established a framework for properly decontaminating disposable facemasks. They determined that heating a mask in a 160-degrees-Fahrenheit oven for five minutes kills more than 99.9% of the viruses they tested, including SARS-CoV-2. Credit Jeff Fitlow/Rice University Usage Restrictions NONE License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.