C.O. health officials offer face covering do’s, don’ts

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon public health departments are encouraging residents to wear cloth face coverings in public settings when physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores and pharmacies. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cloth face coverings can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Cloth face coverings prevent the person wearing the mask from spreading respiratory droplets when talking, sneezing, or coughing.

If everyone wears a cloth face covering when out in public, such as going to the grocery store, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 can be reduced for the community.

Since someone can spread the virus before symptoms start, or even they never have symptoms, wearing a cloth face covering protects others. Face coverings worn by others can help protect you from getting the virus from people carrying the virus.

When wearing a cloth face covering:

Do: 

      Wear a covering when you can’t maintain 6 ft of distance from people outside your household (e.g., grocery store, pharmacy)

      Fully cover your mouth and nose with the face covering

      Limit gaps between face and covering

      Wash or sanitize your hands before touching your face or covering

      Remove covering without touching your eyes, mouth, or nose

      Launder covering when not in use, or when soiled

      Continue taking other precautions, like physical distancing and regular hand washing.

Don’t: 

      Use someone else’s face covering

      Touch the inside of your face covering

      Share your face covering

      Go out in public if you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, except for medical care.

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 mask without assistance. For children 2-8, cloth face covering should only be worn under adult supervision to ensure that the child can breathe safely and avoid choking or suffocation.