The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidance late Friday concerning the wearing of cloth face masks while out in public. The CDC, according to President Donald Trump, said that people, when going to public locations, should now wear “non-medical, cloth face coverings.” The action is voluntary, Trump said in his afternoon press briefing.
TRUMP: “The CDC is advising the use of non-medical, cloth face covering as an additional voluntary public health measure. … This is voluntary, I don’t think I’m going to be doing it.”
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) April 3, 2020
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Since the beginning of the battle against COVID-19, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had said that people didn’t need to wear masks unless they were sick and coughing, The New York Times reported prior to Trump’s announcement.
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Thursday evening, Trump had said his administration would have regulations when it came to the general population and the wearing of masks. Some opportunities for wearing masks while in public would be when going to pharmacies and grocery stores, the Times reported.
Many people may now be looking for ways to make their own personal protective equipment or to make PPE for those working the front lines.
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There are many designs to make, from no-sew options to ones that need some needle and thread.
No Sew
Supplies:
- A bandanna or piece of finished cloth
- Hair elastics
Sewn versions
Supplies:
- Paper, to make a pattern
- Cotton fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- Elastic
- Pins
- Sewing machine
The New York Times has an alternate pattern. Click here for step by step instructions.
Kaiser Permanente has also shared a design approved by the health system for donation to hospitals, The Washington Post reported.