Use of Cloth Face Masks to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings (Face Masks)
Cloth face coverings should:
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- be secured with ties or ear loops
- include multiple layers of fabric
- allow for breathing without restriction
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?
Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.
How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering?
A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a cloth face covering.
How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?
Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their cloth face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.
How do I make cloth face coverings?
Learn three easy methods to make cloth face coverings here:
How to Make a Cloth Face Mask (three methods) – Instructions from the CDC
Or to download an instructional PDF, click on the button below:
You may also be interested in:
- CDC Recommendations for the Use of Cloth Face Masks to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
- How to Prepare for COVID-19
- Stay Informed: COVID-19 Interactive Heat Map
- Coronavirus Facts: What can older adults do to reduce their risk of illness?
- 4 Tips to Help You Stay Healthy During COVID-19
- Getting Groceries During Quarantine
- When and How to Wash Your Hands
- Coronavirus 101: What you need to know about COVID-19
- Facts About Novel Coronavirus and How to Prevent COVID-19
