The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends people wear cloth masks in public to help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19.

According to a statement issued Friday, the CDC is recommending that cloth masks be worn in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The statement specifically cites grocery stores and pharmacies as examples of those places.

The statement also says cloth masks should be worn “especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” The emphasis on the word “especially” is as printed in the CDC statement.

The new guidance is in light of recent studies suggesting a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms, and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before symptoms begin to be experienced.

“It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus,” the statement says. “CDC is additionally advising 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 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 statement says the cloth masks recommended to be used in public are not surgical masks or respirators. Such items are “critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.”

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