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How effective is wearing a mask in public?

Wearing a mask is now being recommended because our knowledge about how coronavirus spreads is changing.

ROSSFORD, Ohio — If you plan to go to the grocery store or get gas, you're required to wear a mask or some sort of face covering, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

But if you've been out in public recently, you've probably noticed not everyone is covering their faces. 

A lot of you have been sounding off the alarm on mask use in public on our WTOL 11 social media pages. The CDC is now recommending the masks because knowledge about how this virus spreads is changing. Now, the agency believes COVID-19 can be transmitted through the air. 

"We still generally think coronavirus is a droplet disease, but droplets can actually get dispersed into the air and hang around in the air under certain conditions," ProMedica Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety Dr. Brian Kaminski said. 

When everyone is wearing a mask, those droplets can be contained, which protects other people and ourselves. 

"We know there are people out in the community who have this disease. When we wear masks, there is some evidence that if you have the disease and you cough or speak or sneeze, that disease is more well-contained and you're less likely to shed those viral particles," Kaminski said. 

If you don't have a mask, you can easily make one at home with a bandana, or other square piece of fabric. Click here for instructions. 

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Facts not fear: Putting COVID-19 into context

WTOL 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit /coronavirus-covid-19 for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan specifically, learn more about the symptoms and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 419-248-1100.

Protect yourself from coronavirus

  • Cover: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Dispose: Throw used tissues in a lined can.
  • Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
  • Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use and alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

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