Digging out the DIY skills
Friends show off homemade face masks for pandemic living
KEENE VALLEY — Since the novel coronavirus has infected thousands around the world, causing the deadly COVID-19, residents in small Adirondack towns have joined their global neighbors in making masks to protect their faces from and prevent the spread of the virus during the pandemic.
The practice of wearing a face mask when out in public has long been socially acceptable in Eastern Asian culture for health reasons, and even for warmth in winter. The wearing of masks during cold and flu season is widespread among the people of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand, who consider such masking both a precaution and a duty.
In the West, masking has not been common, and, except in a hospital or hazmat setting or on Halloween, was even frowned upon. There have been recent reports in the United States of people taking offense at, or expressing suspicion of, those wearing masks.
“I don’t want your germs either!” a woman yelled at an elderly Asian man who was wearing a white mask inside a Lake Placid supermarket. When questioned, the woman said she felt insulted that the man apparently considered her to be a disease-carrier.
Then one morning it seemed everyone woke up and started making masks.
On April 3, 2020, despite controversy as to the effectiveness of mask-wearing to control the spread of disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed direction and recommended face cloth covering in public areas where adequate social distancing is not assured.
The change came in light of new evidence that the novel coronavirus may be shed by people who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic of the disease, and also that the virus may linger in the air inside a room and on surfaces. While a cloth covering over the nose and mouth does not provide a completely effective shield, it may help to prevent broadcasting the virus, and could also provide some protection to the person wearing it.
Immediately, a profusion of do-it-yourself patterns for face masks appeared on social media, which was a good thing, since you couldn’t buy one for love or money.
Those who possessed N95 respirator and surgical masks, or were perhaps hoarding them, were encouraged to donate them to those who needed it the most: hospitals and medical first responders.
And on Monday, April 13, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order — effective 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 — requiring all essential businesses to provide face masks, free of charge, to their employees who have direct contact with the public.
Now, all over the United States, and around the world, people are sporting their own versions of the mask.
Some are sewn, some require no needle or thread, some are made from T-shirts or fabric from the rag-bag, some are secured with elastic, rubber bands or hair scrunchies and some tie around the head with twine or fabric strings. Some swear by cloth vacuum cleaner bags, but advise against using HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum filters, which are made from interlaced glass fibers.
Go ahead, be creative! Make your own mask. Let your imagination run wild. After all, you’ve been ordered to stay at home, so you might as well enjoy yourself.
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Essential businesses
On Monday, April 13, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.16, which included a requirement that all essential businesses provide face masks, free of charge, to their employees:
“For all essential businesses or entities, any employees who are present in the workplace shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings for their employees. This provision may be enforced by local governments or local law enforcement as if it were an order pursuant to section 12 or 12-b of the Public Health Law. This requirement shall be effective Wednesday, April 15 at 8 p.m.”
(Editor Andy Flynn contributed to this report.)