In a press conference on Thursday, April 2, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell asked everybody to wear a mask when they leave home– to jog, to shop, whatever.  This is in the wake of the second island death from COVID-19.  The State Department of Health said there have been 258 cases in the state, 206 on O’ahu.  Both of those who died were O’ahu residents.

The CDC is currently deciding whether to recommend the wearing of some kind of nose-and-mouth covering for all people.  Right now, possibly partly because of the shortage of surgical and N95 masks, the CDC has not issued such a recommendation.

Caldwell stressed that he is not asking people to purchase surgical or N95 masks, but just use home-made or store-bought cotton masks that would help confine their own germs.  There is new information coming out every day about COVID-19 –how it spreads, how to prevent it–and Caldwell said it is critical that we do all we can to control the disease.

Dr. Darragh O’Connell from Kuakini Health joined Mayor Caldwell in the press conference, to stress the importance of working through COVID-19 as a team.  He said masks, once on, will keep us from touching our faces, which is a big way the disease spreads.  He said touching a surface that has COVID-19 droplets, and then touching the face, especially eyes, nose, and  mouth, is a primary way the virus  spreads.

Kaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami has posted a video on Facebook with instructions on how to make a simple, no-sew mask.