Face Masks And Coronavirus: 5 Things To Know

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends all Americans wear nonmedical-grade face coverings when in public to help prevent transmission of the new coronavirus.

Trump said the guidelines are voluntary and stressed that medical masks and respirators should be reserved for health care workers.

Here are five things you need to know about the use of face masks in the United States:

1. Health Workers First

Some health care workers come face to face with COVID-19 patients every day, and their need for protective masks and respirators remains the greatest. As the demand for face masks continues to rise both among the public and health professionals, the availability of masks is scarce.

My Sister The Nurse Is A Coronavirus Superhero Without Right Mask

Mask Shortage Straps Pharmacists Who Need Them To Keep Medicines Pure

2. What’s A Face Covering?

The CDC recommendation for face coverings looks like the encouragement issued to residents in San Diego County: They can include homemade masks, bandanas, scarves and neck gaiters. Again, coverings should not be medical-grade masks, which are in short supply, officials said. And there are ways to make your own.

3. How To Make Your Own Face Covering

If you’re looking to make your own face coverings at home, there are several ways to do so. Here’s how:

Materials And Instructions For making Your Own Face Masks

4. Disposing Of Used Face Masks

Reports of people disposing of used face masks and gloves on the ground have begun to surface around the country as the use of personal protective equipment becomes more prominent. Some officials, such as those in Bloomfield, New Jersey, have asked the public to properly dispose of those items in garbage cans instead of littering.

Bloomfield Officials: Don’t Leave Gloves, Masks In Streets