Covid-19 Masks*

By Tanya Chhabria

Covid-19 is an ongoing problem that is only gaining in severity. One of the biggest factors contributing to this rise is the people not wearing masks. An experiment, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, states that “droplets generated during speech traversed approximately 50 to 75 mm”, but with the use of a facial covering, such as a cloth mask, the droplets were blocked, preventing the spread of diseases. During the early stages of COVID-19, the CDC and WHO recommended people to use N95 respirators, but since they are in short supply, WHO advised “that governments should encourage the use of non-medical fabric masks, which can act as a barrier to prevent the spread of the virus from the wearer to others where there are many cases of COVID-19”.

But where can one obtain fabric masks? If done properly, a homemade mask can be as effective as a store-bought one. The CDC has provided step-by-step instructions to make these masks with sowing and without: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html. Some stores that one might be able to obtain fabric masks from are Walmart and Target.

Links for Fabric Masks**:

1. https://www.walmart.com/ip/25-unit-Disposable-Face-Masks-3-Ply-Non-Woven-Fabric-Soft-Comfortable-Safety-Cover-Guard-unseen-airborne-substances-Pollen-Smoke-Air-Pollution-Free-R/760985365

2. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Norty-3-Pack-Premium-Adult-3-Layer-Washable-Reusable-Soft-Cotton-Fabric-Adjustable-Face-Mask-Ships-from-NJ-Cloth-Face-Cover/308153583

3. https://www.target.com/p/2ct-adult-fabric-face-mask/-/A-79934801

4. https://www.buckmason.com/products/washable-prevention-face-masks?sscid=71k4_kpnw3&

*These are only recommendations and we are not responsible in any way if one contracts any disease while wearing the coverings.

**These are not the only places one can get facial coverings.

#Covid19 #FacialCoverings #Masks