The Truth About Cloth Face Masks

We are all in the middle of this COVID-19 crisis together. It's important to fully understand what you can do to slow the spread of COVID-19. We get more and more information each day, so it's important to stay updated. With that in mind, our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to share some vital information regarding cloth face masks from the CDC with you in this week's blog. You'll see that the CDC refers to cloth face masks as "cloth face coverings". Our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics believe we can get through this together! To make an appointment with Central Ozarks Medical Center, please give us a call. Our phone numbers can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. Also, if you are experiencing shortness of breath, a fever, or a dry cough, please let us know before you get here and we will prepare properly.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

[INFO. FROM THE CDC]

Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19

How to Wear a Cloth Face Covering

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 mask 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 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 face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

We Can Get Through This Together!

All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center hope that this blog found you safe and healthy! Stay updated as much as possible on all information regarding COVID-19. To stay up to date on our latest announcements, please follow us on our social media channels listed below. You can also check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org for more information.


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