Per the CDC, it is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. 

The CDC also recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) 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.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.  If you have N-95 respirators at home that you would like to donate to a healthcare worker, or homemade masks that you want to give to others in the community, please post on the list serv of Highland Park Helping Hands Facebook page and someone who works in health care will reach out to you.

There are lots of websites with instructions on how to make masks:

• For simple no-sew masks made with a square of fabric and two rubber bands: watch this CDC video 

• No-sew masks made from a long socks: here's how

• No-sew masks made from old T-shirts:  repurpose a Tshirt you don't wear anymore!

• Easy sewing instructions - plus more info on masks: from the CDC here 

Once you’re back home after wearing your spiffy new mask in public, remove it without touching the front and without touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  You’ll want to clean it before wearing it again. You don’t need to wash your mask differently than other laundry because the soap in detergent should destroy any viruses.