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Yes, Wear A Mask, But Make Sure You Do It Correctly

Rachael McDonald

As of Monday morning, there are 30 positive cases of COVID-19 in Lane County. Five people have recovered. There has been one known death related to the virus.

Lane County Public Healthofficials Monday offered some clarification about DIY masks, after the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention changed guidelines recently to recommend wearing a face-covering in public places.

Credit CDC

A mask can be made out of simple cotton cloth. A tight weave is best and the more folds in the fabric the better for filtering out small particles. Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis says wearing a mask is a good idea in settings where it is difficult to maintain 6 feet of social distancing from others. He says the idea is that you are protecting others from possible infection. And when others wear a mask, they’re protecting you.

Credit CDC

“And that’s really the ethos or the thought behind these masks.” Says Davis,  “Is that we’re helping protect each other from asymptomatic transmission and then potentially if you are experiencing symptoms from getting other people sick.” 

“Keep in mind you still have to use it correctly.” Dr. Patrick Leudtke adds, “So, you have to cover your mouth and your nose. And you have to use it the whole time. You can’t say, oh, I’m a little hot, and I’m going to take it off my nose or that sort of thing, because you could be exposed during that time.”

That’s Senior Lane County Public Health Officer, Patrick Leudtke. The advantage of a DIY cloth mask is that it can be laundered. Leudtke recommends cleaning masks regularly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPx1yqvJgf4">Videoof how to make a DIY mask.

Copyright 2020 KLCC.

Rachael McDonald is KLCC’s host for All Things Considered on weekday afternoons. She also is the editor of the KLCC Extra, the daily digital newspaper. Rachael has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. She started out in public radio as a newsroom volunteer at KLCC in 2000.
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