Prince George’s County, Maryland county leader Angela Alsobrooks issued an executive order this weekend requiring shoppers to cover their mouths and noses while shopping in stores and riding the public bus system.
Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles issued a similar order.
The orders, which go into effect this week, are designed to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and the illness it causes, COVID-19.
According to the orders, cloth masks are acceptable, and N95 medical-grade masks should be reserved for front-line healthcare workers. In addition, both counties are cracking down on physical distancing in stores, and continuing to preach about washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.
A Similar Order in Alexandria?
A passionate debate started on Alexandria Living Magazine’s Facebook page this week about whether City of Alexandria or Fairfax County officials should issue a similar mandate.
Right now, it is highly unlikely that this will happen — and you can thank the Dillon Rule, which has to do with state control over what local governments can and cannot do.
The Dillon Rule came from a pair of court decisions issued by Judge John F. Dillon of Iowa in 1868, both of which ruled that a "substate government" can do something only if the state allows it to do so.
Alexandria has fought for its own authority and exceptions to the Dillon Rule in a number of instances. Most recently, the Virginia Legislature voted to allow local governments to decide the fate of Confederate and other historic statues and monuments.
Regardless, right now, Alexandria and Fairfax County do not have the authority to mandate use of masks or face coverings — that power lies with the state government.
Virginia’s Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday that wearing a face covering is a “strong suggestion” but he has no plans to issue a mandate.
Do Masks Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus?
It’s complicated.
CDC
United States Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates a no-sew DIY multi-layered face mask.
The purpose of wearing a cloth face mask is to help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to healthy people.
Some face coverings are certainly better than others and they should be used along with social distancing and hand washing — but having some sort of a shield is better than having none at all, according to the CDC.
Recent studies have shown that people may be infected with coronavirus and have the COVID-19 illness — and never have or develop any symptoms (such as a fever and cough).
People can also infect others before they themselves develop symptoms of the illness.
Remember the story of Typhoid Mary? It's like that. Someone who seems to be perfectly healthy may be a disease carrier and infect others.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
“CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.”
Wearing a face covering or mask can help prevent virus particles (emitted by coughing, sneezing, breathing or talking) from hitting other people or landing on surfaces where they can infect other people.
Can a Cloth Face Mask Prevent You from Catching Coronavirus?
Not really.
According to the CDC, “A cloth face covering is not intended to protect the wearer, but it may prevent the spread of virus from the wearer to others.”
That is especially true for wearers who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic but infected with this coronavirus.
Preventing the spread of coronavirus to others is a critical component of flattening the curve and slowing the spread of coronavirus throughout the community. Flattening the curve is part of the calculus in figuring out when Virginia's local stay-at-home order can be lifted.
The best ways to prevent catching coronavirus and developing COVID-19 are:
- Staying physically at least 13 feet away from other people (this is an update from the CDC from the earlier 6-foot recommendation)
- Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with plenty of soap and water. (If that’s not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.)
- Avoiding touching your face.
- Avoiding contact with people who are sick.
- Disinfecting surfaces routinely.
What about N95 Masks?
N95 masks are medical grade masks that, used properly, can help prevent the user from contracting coronavirus when combined with other protective equipment, vigorous hand washing and other preventive measures.
Right now, N95 masks are in very short supply worldwide, and our first responders and healthcare workers need them so they can continue to work helping those who get sick and need to be hospitalized. That’s why the CDC and state and local governments are encouraging non-healthcare professionals to donate their N95 masks to those who truly need them for the greater good.
In addition, N95 masks are not foolproof — it is possible to wear them incorrectly and get no more protection than you would from a homemade cloth face covering.
How to Wear Your Cloth Face Covering Properly
Wearing a cloth face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus works significantly better under a few conditions, according to the CDC:
Cloth face coverings should…
- fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- be secured with ties or ear loops
- include multiple layers of fabric
- allow for breathing without restriction
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
In addition, wearers should take the mask on and off by the earloops only, never touch the front of the mask, and wash hands before and after putting on or taking off the mask.
Some materials are better than others for face masks. Since the mask should fit snugly but allow you to breathe easily, a regular bandana or scarf will offer very little protection from transmitting the virus. A larger square of tightly-woven cotton can work as material for a multi-layerd DIY no-sew face mask. If you can sew and have elastic, quilting fabric is recommended.
Learn more about face masks here:
