The CDC is recommending that people wear cloth masks (the DIY, homemade kind... not surgical masks or N95 kind because those are needed by medical professionals).
Why wear a mask? To protect OTHER PEOPLE. Wearing a cloth face covering may help prevent the spread of the virus by people who are infected and do not know it.
From the CDC: It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. CDC is additionally advising 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.
Mobile County Health Officer discusses use of cloth face coverings
MOBILE, Alabama — Dr. Bernard H. Eichold II, Health Officer of Mobile County, has submitted this information to the residents of Mobile County:
“I encourage people when they are performing essential shopping, please wear a ‘cottage industry cloth mask.’ Wash your hands frequently and maintain physical distancing of 6 feet from others. This guidance is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on April 3, 2020 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html).
“The CDC stated, ‘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.’
“Over 275 Health Care Workers in Alabama have tested positive for COVID-19 and they need their personal protective equipment (PPE). Do not pilfer/steal PPE from hospitals, first responders or medical providers.
“Instructions on how to wear a cloth mask and how to make the masks from materials you have at home can be found by clicking on the following link -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ 2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. Based on this CDC recommend-dation, the Alabama Grocers Association instructed Alabama grocery retail employees to wear masks.”
(Photo credit: Getty Images ALEX HALADA / Contributor)