CDC recommends cloth face covering to be worn in community settings
Apr 14, 2020, 12:27 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2024, 6:58 am
A masked pedestrian pauses near the Amazon headquarters on March 10, 2020, in downtown Seattle, Washington. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
After competing recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends everyone wear a cloth face covering when out in public.
The cloth should cover your nose and mouth to help protect people around you as there is a chance that people could be infected with coronavirus without showing symptoms.
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“A cloth face covering should be worn whenever people are in a community setting, especially in situations where you may be near people. These settings include grocery stores and pharmacies,” the CDC states.
As a reminder, these face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing measures. People should remain at least six feet away from one another and continue to practice frequent hand washing. If you are sick, you should stay at home.
“A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but it may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others.”
The recommendation from the CDC does not include surgical masks and N95 respirators as these products should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.
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Face coverings for the general public can be made from common household items. According to the CDC, children under 2 years of age or individuals who have trouble breathing should not wear a face covering.
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