Since the COVID-19 pandemic touched down in North America, the general public has received mixed messages with regards to what they should do to best protect themselves and their families.

Officials have been extremely vocal about the importance of social distancing and proper handwashing, but their stance on the use of face masks has been decidedly more confusing. At first, they were adamant that face masks are ineffective for the general public, but other experts disputed their stance, arguing the contrary.

In recent weeks, however, officials have changed their stance on face masks and are now encouraging their use by the general public, but with one caveat: leave the medical supplies for medical workers.

The New Recommendations by the CDC

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently updated their recommendations to the public to include wearing a face covering as an additional protective measure [1].

These new recommendations have been developed based on research that confirms that there is a significant portion of the population who are asymptomatic (meaning they don’t show symptoms) carriers of the virus, or who are pre-symptomatic (they eventually develop symptoms but have not exhibited them yet). Researchers have now confirmed that individuals in these categories are able to transmit the virus despite their apparent lack of symptoms [2,3,4].

The CDC now recommends wearing a cloth face-covering in a public setting where proper social distancing is difficult to maintain, such as in a grocery store. This is particularly important if you live in an area that has experienced a significant amount of community-based transmission [1].

Keep Reading: How To Protect Yourself From COVID-19 According To A Lung Doctor

Thirty Days to Slow the Spread

The CDC’s recommendations were made in line with the presidential coronavirus guidelines for America. 

In a document titled 30 Days to Slow the Spread, the Whitehouse outlined the steps they are encouraging all Americans to take in order to slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19 throughout the country.

This document makes recommendations such as staying home and contacting your nearest healthcare provider if you or someone in your household is feeling sick, and if a member of your home does test positive, to put your entire household under complete quarantine.

It includes specific recommendations for senior citizens and those with underlying health conditions, discouraging them from leaving their homes at all if possible.

The document also highlights the importance of social distancing when you do leave your home, and proper hygiene, such as regular hand washing, coughing or sneezing into a tissue, and frequently disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces in your home.

Since the federal government has left much of the decision-making up to state governments, closures of schools, restaurants, bars, and other public spaces have been left to the discretion of state governors [5].

Read: Should You Disinfect Your Groceries To Prevent COVID-19?

PPE Shortages in America

Despite the fact that the CDC, as well as government officials, are now suggesting face masks may be an effective tool to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, they are still not recommending that the public purchase medical-grade masks.

While this may seem contradictory to some, it is for one main reason: we are facing a severe shortage of masks for our frontline healthcare providers.

One of the reasons the COVID-19 virus is such a major threat to public health is because of the strain it is putting on our healthcare system. Nurses and doctors in hospitals across the country are being forced to reuse single-use face masks, and wearing trash bags in place of protective clothing.

Italy has experienced the highest rate of death from the virus out of any country in the world thus far, and it is partly due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the country. This includes respirators, gloves, face shields, gowns, and hand sanitizer [6].

As of April 8, the United States is now the global leader in the number of cases at over 405 thousand, and the third-highest number of deaths with over 13 thousand. The virus is not expected to reach its peak for several days, and experts are predicting several thousand more cases over the next couple of weeks before we begin to see signs of improvement [7].

The FDA has publicly recognized that there is a PPE shortage in the US, and is recommending reusing equipment as much as possible, and even using equipment past its expiry date, saying that “they may still offer some protection even when they are used beyond the manufacturer’s designated shelf life or expiry date” [8].

Healthcare providers across the country have been sending out pleas on social media asking for more PPE, using the tag #GetMePPE and even setting up their own websites to receive PPE donations directly [6].

Our frontline healthcare workers are already at a significantly higher risk for contracting the virus, and without adequate PPE, that risk drastically increases. With a healthcare system that is already being stretched to its utmost capacity, we cannot afford to lose any nurses, doctors, or medical staff. 

In a news briefing, Trump told the American public that as per the recommendations of the CDC, medical face masks should be reserved for healthcare workers only.

“The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face covering as an additional voluntary public health measure,” he said [9].

While there is little evidence that cloth masks provide much protection against the virus, the CDC has stated that along with social distancing and hand washing, a reusable cloth mask can provide an extra layer of protection.

Read: How New Zealand “Flattened The Curve” And Beat Coronavirus Into Submission

How to Make Your Own Mask at Home Without a Sewing Machine

People across the country have now begun fashioning their own masks at home, and there are now dozens of tutorials popping up all over the internet, teaching you how to sew your own mask with a small square of cloth and a sewing machine.

For those of us who do not own a sewing machine, or do not have the know-how to use one, there are other ways to make a face mask that require very little skill. In a video, Instagram user @bridgetbragerhair shared a quick tutorial for how to make a mask out of nothing but a bandana and a couple of elastics.

View this post on Instagram

Over here making masks ? I actually sent this to my mom in AZ because she can’t find masks anywhere. Never have I ever appreciated a bandana and scrunchies more! Hope everyone stays protected! ? #covid19 #diy #hairstylist #scrunchies #bandanna #prevention #everylittlebithelps Health care professionals suggest: Wash hands before touching and/or putting mask on. Once mask is on, do not touch, adjust or play with mask. Take off and wash hands immediately. Wash bandanna after use. ???

A post shared by ?☀️Bridget Brager☀️? (@bridgetbragerhair) on Apr 3, 2020 at 6:34pm PDT

A bandana works well because it is made with tightly-woven cotton, as recommended by the CDC. The CDC also has a tutorial on their website for how to make a no-sew face mask out of a t-shirt and even recommends placing a coffee filter in the center of the mask for additional protection.  

For many, using a facemask provides another layer of protection against the COVID-19 virus, which may ease some of the anxiety and fear they may be feeling. It is important, however, to remember that using a face mask does not give the wearer a free pass to go outside, nor does it replace proper social distancing and hand washing.

It is crucial in the coming weeks that every single citizen across the country follow the guidelines laid out by the government and by the CDC if we are going to have any hope of controlling this virus. If we all stand together, we will be able to weather this storm.

Keep Reading: The Natural World has been Turned Upside Down by the Pandemic

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