People should wear nonsurgical cloth face coverings when they go out in public during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended on April 3rd.

As more knowledge about the virus has come to light, it became apparent that asymptomatic people could be spreading the virus. Up to 25% of people with COVID-19 may not show symptoms, the CDC found. Moreover, a new small study found that COVID-19 may be most infectious when symptoms are mildest, meaning that people may be spreading the virus before realizing they have it.

"This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity - for example, speaking, coughing or sneezing - even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms," the CDC said in a news statement on April 3rd, 2020. "In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain."

As before, the CDC does not recommend that the public wear N95 respirators, which filter out 95% of particles in the air. These masks are in short supply, and they should be reserved for health care workers who are exposed to the virus on a daily basis, the CDC said. Nor should the public wear surgical masks, which are also needed by healthcare workers, the CDC said.

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Due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to wear a mask we are offering a simple way to make your own masks.

Using simple materials like your cotton tee-shirts works best.

Download the template PDF file below.

Click Here PDF

How To Make a Face Mask:

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Cotton Fabric - at least 12"x9"
• Lightweight Fusible Interfacing 12"x9"
• 1/4" Elastic
• Basic Sewing Supplies

DIRECTIONS:

1. Download the template by clicking the file.
2. Cut 1 pattern piece, on the fold, out of the cotton fabric and lightweight interfacing
3. Apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of cotton fabric using an iron.
4. Fold fabric right sides together, matching 9-inch (8-inch) sides.
5. Sew along the 9 (8) inch side, using 1/4" seam allowance and leaving a space 3" wide in the center to turn mask right side out.
6. Cut 2 pieces of elastic 7 inches long. place. Sew across sides, backstitching well over the elastic, to secure the elastic in place.
7. Turn mask right side out and press seams flat.
8. Using pattern as a guide, fold up 3 pleats on each side, making sure the pleats are folded in the same direction. Pin into place.
9. Topstitch around the entire mask, securing the pleats and closing the opening.

HACKS:

• Substitute elastic with 4- 16" Fabric Ties at each corner.
• Any light-medium weight, non-woven interfacing is appropriate for this project.