Coronavirus: Alabama Urges Residents To Wear Face Coverings

BIRMINGHAM, AL — State health officials on Friday urged residents to wear protective face coverings as a method of blunting the spread of coronavirus.

The advice comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued similar guidance on April 3. Originally, health officials recommended the coverings only to those already infected as a way to mitigate the potential spread of illness from the COVID-19 virus that is transmitted in respiratory droplets emitted through coughing or sneezing.

As the rate of infection grows nationwide — including in Alabama, where the illness count grew by 226 to 2,947 over the past 24-hour period — the directive to wear masks has been expanded to include everyone. The urgency of the guidance has been heightened in the wake of recent evidence showing asymptomatic people exhibiting no symptoms can still pose as illness carriers capable of spreading infection.

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Residents should wear the face coverings when outdoors on essential errands — buying groceries, retrieving medications, getting cash at the bank and the like — but should still adhere to physical distancing guidelines as a way of stemming the tide of illness. Health officials have recommended people keep a buffer of at least six feet from each other when making contact in order to further mitigate the spread of illness.

State officials provided a link with instructions on how to make face masksThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided instructions here: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.

Related story: Coronavirus: Alabama Illness Count Grows By 226 To 2,947

"Please remember that medical masks need to be reserved for use by our hospitals, first responders and other health care providers to protect them and to make sure they are available when we need their help," Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mary McIntyre of the Alabama Department of Public Health said in a prepared statement."If you have extra medical masks, gowns or gloves please donate these."

To that end, McIntyre took an opportunity to note various locations accepting donations of personal protective equipment for medical personnel on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight. A flyer showcasing the effort can be viewed at alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/assets/oralhealth-ppedonations.pdf.

The donation drive aims to collect personal protective equipment — PPE in the medical industry parlance — such as gowns, masks and gloves for distribution to area hospital health care personnel. Those interested in donating are directed to contact Jessica Durham at (334) 206-2924 or by email at jessica.durham@adph.state.al.us to arrange a drop-off time at the RSA Tower in Montgomery.

The Alabama Department of Public Health also seeks donations of face masks for home health care patients. Contact Dr. Choona Lang, Homecare Division director, ADPH Bureau of Home and Community Services, at (334) 206-5696 or by email at choona.lang@adph.state.al.us.