DIY FACEMASKS – Wearing a simple, made-from-home mask while making essential trips could help slow the spread of COVID-19.

DIY FACEMASKS – Wearing a simple, made-from-home mask while making essential trips could help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I urge you to take additional precautions to protect you and others from COVID-19,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “Cover your mouth and nose while in public places. Some barrier is better than none at all.”

To date, the most effective thing we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home. However, even during the Governor’s “stay-in-place” order, residents still need to make essential trips like those to the grocery or pharmacy.

While hospital workers and front line responders are seeking greater supplies of N95 respirator masks, people across the country are taking to “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) approaches in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. And while these masks are not 100% effective or scientifically proven, there have been some recent reports that people in public should be wearing them to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Research does show that fluids and respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing play a part in the spread of COVID-19. Wearing a basic, made from home mask could have an impact in trapping those particles from spreading to others. Some countries in Europe that have asked residents to use “DIY” facemasks are finding some success in lower transmission rates.

Even if you could find commercially made personal protective equipment (like N95 respirator masks), the city is not encouraging you to purchase those at this time. PPE like N95 respirator masks should be reserved for front-line workers like medical personnel at this time.

However, a simple made from home mask could have impacts on lowering the spread from asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

Dr. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, was quoted on Good Morning America today as stating that, “There is some rational that the person on the street, who may not know they are infected, could actually prevent the spread to other people by wearing masks. This hasn’t been proven, and we know the masks aren’t 100% effective – people might think and get the impression that by wearing a mask they are protected, and they’re not. But even when you pull back and think about it, we are starting to re-examine the possibility that if there are enough masks, should everyone get a mask? Those who try to protect themselves, and those who are trying to protect others. I think there is some rationale that we should use them much more than we do at the present time.”

So while DIY home-made masks are NOT a replacement for personal protective equipment like N95 masks, they could have some impacts on helping slow the spread from asymptomatic carriers. While our capacity to test for carriers of the virus catches up, wearing a mask while making essential trips might be something you can do to help slow the spread of COVID-19.