Coronavirus: Arlingtonians Encouraged To Make Face Coverings

ARLINGTON, VA — Get out your old bandanas and T-shirts. It's time to make your own face covering in order to meet social-distancing standards to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

On March 30, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order calling on residents to stay home except to obtain food and other essential services, obtain medical care, travel to and from work, take care of other persons or care for animals, visit a relative, travel to and from an educational institution, volunteer with a group providing charitable or social services, or exercise outdoors with social distancing.

Arlington County is encouraging residents to make their own cloth face coverings to be worn when they go out to obtain for or other essential services. This follows a recent directive from the Centers for Disease Control, which encourages citizens to wear cloth face coverings in public.

The county released guidance Tuesday on how a mask can be made using common household items. County Board Chair Lynn Garvey also demonstrates how to make a face covering in a video posted on YouTube: