All About Face Masks

If you aren’t wearing a face mask already, you will be. A growing list of states, as well as local governments, are mandating face masks in public. The CDC now says this about the need for cloth face coverings:
​Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice…COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of cloth face coverings is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.  (June 28, 2020)

Masks may take some getting used to, but the public health benefits are well worth it. Since the virus travels via respiratory droplets, face coverings help slow its spread. Remember, it’s possible to be infected with the coronavirus and show no symptoms. Wearing a mask signals to others that you care about their well-being – even if you don’t feel sick.


“One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they fidget with their masks.” Tara Parker-Pope, “How NOT to Wear a Mask”

 
The New York Times points out that mask wearing won’t feel weird for long: the more everyone wears a mask, the more accepted they will become. “If everybody has to wear a mask, there’s no stigma,” says Shan Soe-Lin, a lecturer at the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. “I would like to see it change social norms. In Hong Kong, it’s a good thing to see someone in a mask. If you’re sick, you put a mask on. You’re kind of rude to be coughing without a mask on.”
 
Following are links to resources for learning all about protective masks and the proper way to wear them:

“Still Confused About Masks? Here’s the Science Behind How Face Masks Prevent Coronavirus”   June 26, 2020.
The University of California San Francisco Medical Center explains the current science on how masks work, and why the CDC has changed its mask-wearing guidance.

“Face Mask Requirements: Can Stores Make You Wear a Mask? Do Kids Have to Wear Masks?” USA Today. 
This article provides wide-ranging updates to the mask debate, including this:
“USA Today fact checked claims that wearing a face mask for prolonged periods of time would cause someone to experience significant reductions in oxygen intake, resulting in hypoxemia. The fact check found no evidence to support this.”

“A User’s Guide to Face Masks” The New York Times online.
This plain-English article covers a lot of ground, so keep scrolling. It even includes a how-to video for making a mask from a tee-shirt – no sewing required.

“How NOT to Wear a Mask” The New York Times online.
Common mistakes to avoid while wearing the new wardrobe essential.

“Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19” CDC.  

“What to Know Before Making Your Own DIY Face Mask” Popular Mechanics.
Safety guidelines to help avoid cross-contamination.

And, here is a list of online sellers offering face masks in kids’ sizes:
“Buying Face Masks for Kids? 15 Online Stores You Can Shop from Now” CNET: Health and Wellness. Your child needs a comfortable face mask designed just for them.  Here are several sources for masks in kids’ sizes, in styles of all kinds.