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Health
What You Need to Know about Wearing a Face Mask during the COVID-19 Crisis
Including how to make your own and more regarding the latest face mask
recommendations from the CDC.
By Tessa Yannone· 4/7/2020, 12:08 p.m.
* Print
__________________________________________________________________
Read all about the latest gym openings, healthy events, and fitness trends in
our twice weekly Wellness newsletter.
Photo via Getty Images
On May 1 Governor Charlie Baker issued a face-covering mandate where
social distancing is not possible, effective May 6. Businesses may
decline entry to an individual refusing to wear a face mask and
violation of the mask can result in a $300 fine. Full details can be
found here.
Over the weekend, along with some new curfew guidelines suggested by
Marty Walsh, Bostonians were encouraged to wear a face mask of some
sort whenever they leave their home, even if they didn’t have reason to
think they were sick. The previous recommendations for who should wear
a mask had been under review by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and by April 3 the guidelines were changed to recommend
that everyone except infants should now be wearing one.
Originally, the hesitation to encourage more widespread mask usage came
from the shortage of protective equipment for hospital workers and the
concept that non-medical workers might buy up the supply. There were
also concerns it would encourage more risky behavior, since wearing a
mask might make people think they were safe. But the benefits outweigh
these hypotheticals. George Gao, director general of the Chinese Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Washington Post, “Many
people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. If they are
wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from
escaping and infecting others.”
It’s also a good visual reminder for people to not to touch their face
and to keep their distance from people. As Jeremy Howard, a research
scientist at the University of San Francisco who specializes in medical
data analytics, told the Boston Globe, “Suggesting people not wear
masks is like suggesting people shouldn’t have worn condoms at the
height of the HIV crisis. It’s basically encouraging people to engage
in harmful behavior.”
I am asking EVERYONE to wear a face covering whenever you leave your
home.
This can be a scarf, bandanna, or other type of cloth. Up to 25% of
people do not show symptoms & do not know they have the virus. By
wearing face coverings in public we will slow the spread of
#COVID19. pic.twitter.com/EOIMgETN5B
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) April 6, 2020
The next two weeks in Boston, when we’re expected to see a peak of new
cases hit hospitals, are critical. Along with continuing to follow
strict social distancing standards, it’s time to also make sure your
face is covered with some type of cloth face covering. Save the
medical-grade N95 masks for medical workers, though. And remember: Even
government officials like Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker are donning face
masks. It’s time you do the same. And to help you get started, here’s
what you need to know about wearing, making, and buying a face mask to
protect yourself, and others, from the coronavirus.
What are the new guidelines?
The CDC now recommends that everyone, with the exception of children
under the age of two and anyone who has trouble breathing, “wear cloth
face coverings in public settings where other social distancing
measures are difficult to maintain.” This includes locations like the
grocery store and pharmacy as well as areas of “significant
community-based transmission.”
The cloth face coverings should not be surgical masks or N95
respirators—those should be reserved for medical workers. Any type of
homemade covering works in a pinch, so don’t worry if what you come up
with isn’t too fancy. According to the CDC, it simply needs to:
* 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
Why do I need to wear one?
It’s been said throughout this pandemic that if you feel like you’re
overreacting, that’s probably a good thing. The next two weeks in
Boston, we’re expected to see a surge of newly confirmed cases of the
virus. Ensuring everyone wears masks in public places prevents those
carrying the virus who may not be showing any symptoms from passing it
along to others.
Do I have to continue social distancing if I’m wearing a mask?
Absolutely. There’s really no ifs, ands, or buts about this one. Sorry,
but a mask does not turn you into an invincible superhero, no matter
how “cool” you make it look. Continue behaving as if you weren’t
wearing one.
Photo via Getty Images
Can I use materials around my house to make one? And do I need a sewing
machine?
Anything is better than nothing—to some extent. In a 2013 study,
household materials were tested to see how well they blocked bacteria
and viral aerosols. Although they didn’t block particles as well as
surgical masks, the items used in the study were still better than
nothing and could keep people from spreading the virus. The CDC is
advising that “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.” There are plenty of
tutorials around the internet on how to craft your own DIY mask using
things like t-shirts, bandanas, hair ties, sheets, and coffee filters
without having the skills of a master tailor. As long as it fits snugly
to your face and consists of at least two layers of fabric, you’re in
business.
If I’m feeling extra crafty, how can I sew one?
If you’re the arts and crafts type who may have a sewing machine in the
home, you can bust it out and get to work on a completely DIY face
mask. All you need are two rectangular pieces of cotton fabric, two
pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, hair ties, etc.), scissors, needle
and thread, and a sewing machine. Full instructions are on the CDC’s
website.
Where can I buy one?
Places like Home Depot, Ace, and Lowe’s have protective equipment still
for sale as well as select CVS stores and other pharmacies, although
those places might be on short supply. Amazon still has some face masks
in stock as well. There are also some people and stores around Boston,
like Vivant Vintage (which will be made available on their website
soon), making homemade masks and asking for donations to their
businesses that are currently closed due to COVID-19. Fall River bed
linen company, Matouk has turned their factory into a mask making
production, a Northeastern senior has started a Facebook forum to
deliver mask-making kits to people around Boston, and a biology teacher
has even put his 3D printer to work making masks. As mentioned earlier,
when buying a mask, you should make sure it has two layers of fabric
and will fit securely on your face.
Each of my 4 printers can make 4 masks every day. So 16 of these bad
Larry’s every day to responders, or anyone who wants/needs one.
pic.twitter.com/OdQod7hUFr
— Bennett Ahearn (@ahearnbNAHS) March 23, 2020
How should I wash my face mask, and how often?
The CDC says the washing machine should suffice for proper washing. As
for how often you should wash it? That depends on how often you wear
it. The CDC does not have recommendations for exactly how often you
should wash it. Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National
Foundation for Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, told TODAY
that while there are no recommendations on how often you should wash
your face mask, once a week should suffice. “You shouldn’t be using
them all that frequently anyways. You’re only going out to the pharmacy
and supermarket,” he says.
Can I make and donate masks to hospital workers?
Yes. Nationally, JoAnn Fabrics is working to initiate a donation fund
for masks that were created by the public, and they have instructions
on their site so you can help them reach their goal of making
100,000,000 masks. If you have unopened hospital-grade masks, you can
donate them as well as funds to local hospitals like Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, Mass General, MIT, and Cambridge Health Alliance
through online donation forms. The forms include details about what
types of masks qualify, as well as lists of other types of donated
items that hospitals are seeking. They may also take homemade masks (as
CHA confirmed on Twitter), but make sure to read the fine print about
whether they’ll take the type of mask you have before sending.
Should I wear a mask while running or exercising outside?
There are varying recommendations for this one. The Boston Public
Health Commission recommends that everyone wear a face covering while
outside, but the CDC has not specified if it’s necessary or not. Joseph
Allen, an assistant professor of exposure and assessment science at
Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the Globe
that if you’re going outside for a run or a hike, you don’t need to
wear one unless you’re in a place where you’re unable to maintain
proper social distancing. But as more and more people gather outdoors
as the weather improves, it’s wise to always ensure you bring some type
of face covering when you leave the house. Another important aspect of
your own mask practices is helping to change the culture around wearing
masks to normalize it, and to serve as a visual reminder of the serious
threat we’re living through right now.
Read More About:
* Coronavirus
* Masks
* Public Health
__________________________________________________________________
Tessa Yannone Wellness Editor @tessayannone
tyannone@bostonmagazine.com
__________________________________________________________________
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