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COVID-19 and face masks - what do they do?

Using a face mask 

The 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.

See the latest CDC guidelines on using face masks

Wearing a cloth or surgical mask WILL:

  • Keep you from touching your nose and mouth, preventing the spread of germs from your hands. (Remember not to touch your eyes either).
  • Protect your nose and mouth from large infected respiratory droplets from other people’s coughs or sneezes
  • Help keep others safe by limiting the transfer of infected respiratory droplets from your coughs and sneezes onto surfaces that others may touch.

Wearing a cloth or surgical Mask WILL NOT:

  • Keep you from inhaling or spreading tiny infected aerosol particles that we all breathe out in the course of normal breathing.
  • Allow you to disregard the 6-foot social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines.
  • Keep you from potentially getting exposed to virus particles.

Learn how to select, clean, and store your face masks.

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