The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that people wear a cloth face covering in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain (e.g. grocery stores and pharmacies).
“Face masks will be most effective at slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 if they are widely used, because they may help prevent people who are asymptomatically infected from transmitting the disease unknowingly,” said former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. South Korea and Hong Kong managed their outbreaks successfully and used face masks widely.
Adding this additional level of protection is in response to those who are infected with the virus but show no symptoms or mild symptoms. “Above all, we continue to stress that the reliable tool we have right now to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is strict social distancing — as outlined in Governor Brown’s ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ orders,” said Paul Cieslak, M.D., OHA medical director for communicable diseases.
There are still concerns over mask shortages so Unified Command is asking the public for help in production to create and donate masks to be distributed. Please contact Lynette Black, Donations and Volunteer Manager, to donate community created masks at 541-298-3578. Distribution sites for mask pick up will be arranged and the public will be notified soon.
CDC recommends face masks, Unified Command asks for donations
