As the coronavirus cases and deaths from COVID-19 continue to increase across the country, the Centers for Disease Control is now recommending that everybody 2 and older wear masks, indoors and outdoors, to try to control the spread of the virus.   That includes wearing a mask indoors when not in your own home.  The CDC notes that around 50% of the cases are now being spread by people with no symptoms.   The CDC recommends non-valved multi-layer cloth masks.  The latest guidance was issued Friday, Dec. 4.

On Nov. 12, the CDC released detailed guidance about the types of masks that work best, along with information about masks that do not work well–woven, poorly-fitted, those with exhalation valves.   Click here for that information.

President-elect Joe Biden says that once inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021,  he plans to ask that everybody wear a mask for 100 days.  He says if everybody in the country can do that for 100 days, health experts say that will significantly slow the spread of the coronavirus.  He says once inaugurated, he plans to require that masks be worn in all federal office buildings and facilities, and on interstate transportation such as airplanes and buses that cross state lines.   Most airlines now require that passengers wear masks in-flight.  According to the Wall Street Journal, as of October 21, airlines have banned at least 1,500 people from flying because of refusal to wear a mask.

Click on the attached graphic, provided by Hilo Medical Center, showing proper mask wearing.

Graphic below provided by the CDC to demonstrate the dos and don’ts of mask-wearing