The Floyd County Health Department recently released guidance on wearing cloth masks in public during this COVID-19 pandemic.

The cloth face mask guidance is as follows:

• The novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 can be spread through saliva and nasal secretions produced by coughs, sneezes, singing, and talking.
• Social distancing measures remain the primary and most effective steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Wearing a mask of any sort does NOT replace state-required social distancing measures, including maintaining a greater than 6 – 10 feet distance from other people.
• In settings where essential activities make social distancing more difficult to maintain (i.e. performing essential services or in stores), the CDC advises that wearing a cloth face mask may help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Cloth masks do not have the proper design or necessary materials to filter out virus particles and therefore do not ensure you will not become infected by COVID-19.
• Wearing a cloth face mask may, however, reduce the risk of someone infected with COVID-19, unknowingly spreading the infection during the period of time after they have become infected but before they have developed symptoms (possibly 2 or more days).
• When wearing a cloth face mask, you must not touch your face and you must still maintain social distancing.
• Do not wear surgical or N95 masks. Those scarce resources must be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders who face high-risk COVID-19 patients numerous times every day.

The Floyd County Health Department wants to remind everyone that this is crucial in combatting the spread of COVID-19 and is a voluntary public health measure for Team Kentucky.

Source: Mountain Top