Face coverings and masks: Here is what you need to know
Image created by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to illustrate how to use face coverings to help slow the spread of Covid-19 on their website.
Residents of Illinois will soon be required to wear a mask or face covering in public starting on Friday, May 1.
Last week Ill. Governor Pritzer announced the mask requirement within his amended statewide stay-at-home order. Both the stay-at-home order extension and mask mandate will go into effect May 1 and last throughout the month.
Section one of the executive order states: “Any individual who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering (a mask or cloth face-covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face-covering when in a public place and unable to maintain a six-foot social distance.”
Businesses are also required to provide masks to employees who are not able to practice social distancing while working.
Many suburban municipalities such as Cicero, Skokie, Wilmette, Glenview, have already issued similar orders that require their residents to wear face coverings in public. Although Chicago Mayor Lightfoot did not have a mask order for Chicagoans, she has encouraged residents to wear them and donate them to help others.
The state and local mask mandates are causing Illinois residents to purchase, sell and even donate face coverings. The most common protective coverings during this pandemic are face coverings, surgical or medical masks and N-95 respirators. These items are made differently and have distinct purposes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), face coverings are “fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost.” These coverings can act as a barrier by decreasing the amount of bodily fluids a wearer releases or shares when talking, coughing, and sneezing. Surgical masks or medical masks are loose-fitting disposable masks that are approved by the FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration). These masks are usually worn by workers in the medical field and are intended to protect the wearer from large droplets or fluids. Surgical masks should only be used once. Whereas, N-95 respirators are tight-fitting coverings regulated by the NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). The respirators can protect wearers from both large and small particles.
The CDC recommends making face coverings because surgical masks and N-95 respirators are considered critical supplies for healthcare workers as they treat patients with COVID-19. However, WHO or the World Health Organization recommends surgical masks for those with a fever, cough, or respiratory symptoms or those caring for someone with those symptoms.
Infographic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explains the di///fference between surgical masks and N-95 respirators.
Although, face coverings are being sold and donated to the public by various online vendors on websites like Etsy, Instagram, Amazon, and Facebook. It is possible to make these coverings at home using materials like a scarf or t-shirt. The CDC has a quick 45-second video on how to make a face covering. Moreover, their website includes detailed step-by-step written directions. Overall, the US agency website states the 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
Overall, an effective face covering should protect the nose and mouth. It should also be washed after usage. The number of layers of fabric and the type of fabric used to make the covering will determine how protective it is. Both government and health officials say that coverings or masks should still be used in conjunction with practicing social distancing and washing your hands.