Custer Health Using Cloth Face Coverings as Per CDC Recommendations
The Center for Disease Control (CDC), recommends most individuals wear a cloth face covering while in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Custer Health is adopting this policy in order to keep all patients, employees, and staff members safe and healthy. This is especially necessary in areas with significant community-based transmission of COVID-19.
Keep in mind: even while wearing a cloth face covering, maintaining the 6-foot physical distance is critical to slowing the spread of the virus.
CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings for people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
“We want to remind our residents, this new recommendation does not mean you should be using surgical masks or N-95 respirators,” said Custer Health Administrator Erin Ourada. “We continue to need these specialized medical tools to help ensure the safety of our healthcare workers and first responders who are on the front lines of this pandemic response.” Cloth face coverings should not be placed on children under the age of two years. Individuals who have trouble breathing, or are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance, should also not wear a mask. When removing a used cloth face covering, individuals are reminded to not touch their eyes, nose and mouth. Wash your hands immediately after removal of the item. Cloth face coverings should be washed routinely in a washing machine, depending on the frequency of use. “We want all individuals to be able to have one more resource in their toolbox they can utilize in this pandemic response,” said Ourada.
For more information about the CDC recommendation for cloth face coverings, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html. More information about cloth face coverings, including direction on making and wearing them, is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html.