Coronavirus Branford Update: Follow CDC Cloth Mask Advice

BRANFORD, CT — The town is reminding residents that given the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation that the public should wear a cloth mask that covers the mouth and nose when out in public.

It's noted this practice should be in addition to, not instead of, social distancing, frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventative measures. And, hospital and surgical masks should be reserved for health care workers.

"A properly made cloth face covering will help prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others. It will stop the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes. This is especially important in the event that someone is infected, but does not have symptoms," a Facebook message from the town reads.

"Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example, to the grocery store for essential food purchases or to pick-up other necessities. Children younger than age two should not wear a cloth face covering because of concerns that they might suffocate," it was noted.

Other measures including social distancing of at least six feet.The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

Please continue to wash your hands regularly and often for 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes, nose and wash commonly touched items and consider every surface as possibly contaminated.

Here's the link to the CDC directions for making a home-made face covering.

• Wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily. Masks should be washed with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle.
• If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face.
• Discard cloth face coverings that no longer cover the nose and mouth, have stretched-out or damaged ties or straps, cannot stay on your face, have holes or tears in the fabric.