Important information about your mask

 

How to Wear Cloth Face Coverings

Cloth face coverings should—

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

• be secured with ties or ear loops

• include multiple layers of fabric

• allow for breathing without restriction

• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

 

Advice on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

Experts recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

They also advise the use of simple cloth face coverings 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 should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

The cloth face coverings 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.

 

Should cloth face coverings be washed or otherwise cleaned regularly? How regularly?

Yes. They should be routinely washed depending on the frequency of use.

How does one safely sterilise/clean a cloth face covering?

A washing machine normally suffices in properly washing a cloth face covering, especially a hot wash or immersing it in freshly boiled water or running a hot iron (ideally with steam) over both sides.

 

How does one safely remove a used cloth face covering?

Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their cloth face covering and wash hands immediately after removing. Remove the mask ideally by lifting the elastic from the back of the head-over the head, as to not touch the face mask itself.

 

Cloth masks do not guarantee protection from Covid-19 but reduce the chances of contracting it or spreading it, significantly. Cloth masks are not a substitution for social distancing measures.

 

 

Adjusting the fit of your mask

The bottom strap of the mask should lie comfortably in the neck and doesn’t have to be too tight. It can be made tighter/looser by shifting the top elastic further through the channels on the side of the mask. The top elastic can be adjusted with the toggle, and sits where comfortable but above the ears. The mask needs to sit snuggly over the nose to prevent it from dropping down over the nose, so the top elastic needs to be tight enough. Playing around with how loose or tight both elastics are will allow you to get a perfect fit for your shape.