The time has come to channel your inner superhero – and wear a mask.
Following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alexia Harrist – the state health officer and state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health – now recommends wearing cloth face masks in public settings – mainly grocery stores and pharmacies – where other measures meant to keep people apart are inherently difficult to maintain. Harrist’s main plea is for everyone to stay at home as much as possible. But in the event that you do need to leave the house, this added layer could save yourself and others from the fatal illness.
These do not need to be manufactured masks, like N-95 respirator masks. Those are engineered for maximum protection in a hospital setting. Definitely save those for the healthcare providers who need them. These cloth masks can be purchased or made at home for a relatively low cost. They are not 100% COVID-19 proof – no method is – but it will stop much of its spread through coughing, sneezing, and other oral transmission methods.
A mask is not an impenetrable shield, nor an alternative to social distancing. But as with all the recent public health orders and urgent recommendation for the Governor and other state officials – it’s the small efforts of everyday citizens that will make all the difference.
