The Center For Disease Control, (CDC), continues to study the spread and effects of Covid-19 across the nation. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus, and those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.

This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity – for example, speaking, coughing or sneezing – even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.

In light of this evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing down the spread of the virus.

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.