News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

They advise that use of simple cloth face coverings can help slow the spread of the virus by preventing people who do not have symptoms, or do not know they may have the virus, from transmitting it to others. Medical professionals have said "when we both wear a face mask, I protect you and you protect me."

It would be beneficial for people to obtain one or two cloth facemasks for use when out in public. They can be washed when dirty and used over and over again. Marion County Public Health is NOT recommending that you purchase manufactured masks intended for health care settings, please save them for health care workers that rely on them for protection.

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; and

• Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

If you choose to wear a mask, be careful when adjusting the mask and avoid reaching under it (they itch) to touch your nose or mouth because the virus can spread by unwashed hands. Also, masks do not work well if they are soiled or damaged.

Check the CDC website for sew and no sew options.

Still, the most effective strategies to prevent infection include physical distancing measures, along with basic hand hygiene (handwashing and/or hand sanitizing), and cough etiquette.

Please visit the Marion County's COVID-19 website for additional information and links to both OHA and the CDC. For general information about the COVID-19, please call 2-1-1.