You may wish to consider wearing a face mask when leaving the house to help protect against the virus’s spread. There is a lot of talk about different types of masks, so we thought that we would try and explain the differences to increase the understanding of how they work.

When someone who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or talks, they send tiny droplets with the coronavirus into the air. That’s where a mask can help. A face mask covers your mouth and nose. It can block the release of virus-filled droplets into the air when you cough or sneeze. This helps slow the spread of COVID-19.

N95 respirator masks fit tightly around your face and are the ones that healthcare workers use. They filter out 95% or more of the smallest particles in the air. But they have to fit just right to work. Due to these being in short supply, these masks should be reserved for healthcare workers who are coming into close contact daily with patients who have confirmed COVID 19 infections

Surgical masks are often blue with white borders. They fit loosely across your nose and mouth. These masks shield against the large droplets from a sick person’s cough or sneeze, but they’re too loose to protect against all germs. And they can’t block the tiniest particles that may carry coronavirus. They will also help to prevent you from passing on infections to other people.

Other face coverings such as wearing a scarf or homemade mask are not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment and do not give you or those around you the same level of protection.

For more information on the types of facemasks, please follow this link. (https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-face-masks#1
The UK Government stresses that face coverings do not replace social distancing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, and/or high temperature, and/or loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste – anosmia), you and your household must isolate at home: wearing a face-covering does not change this.

When must you wear a face covering?

Different regulations exist for wearing face coverings in different parts of the UK:
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

In England, you must wear a face-covering by law in the following settings:
– public transport
– indoor transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations, and terminals, maritime ports, and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals)
– shops and supermarkets (places which are open to the public and that wholly or mainly offer goods or services for retail sale or hire)
– indoor shopping centres
– banks, building societies, and post offices (including credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses)

You are expected to wear a face-covering immediately before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until you leave.

You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face-covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet.

Face coverings are also needed in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries. They are advised to be worn in care homes. Individual settings may have their own policies and require you to take other measures.

When you do not need to wear face-covering

In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances for health, age, or equality reasons, where people are not expected to wear face coverings. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people are less able to wear face coverings and that the reasons for this may not be visible to others.

It is not compulsory for shop or supermarket staff or transport workers to wear face coverings. However, employers may consider their use where appropriate and where other mitigations are not in place. Employers should continue to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines to reduce the proximity and duration of contact between employees.

You do not need to wear a face-covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes (but is not limited to):

young children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
if you are travelling with or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip-reading to communicate
to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others
to avoid injury, or to escape risk of harm, and you do not have a face-covering with you
to eat or drink if reasonably necessary
in order to take medication
if a police officer or other official requests you remove your face covering

For more information, please follow this link to the Official Guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

How to put on a face marks correctly.

The World Health Organisation has put together some beneficial advice on how best to put on a face to mask.

Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Local authorities have also asked that you do not put used masks into your recycling bins. They cannot be recycled and may put their staff at risk.

For more advice from WHO before putting a mask on plea, follow this link:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-Coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks?gclid=CjwKCAjwqpP2BRBTEiwAfpiD-3z7lCSydPxjg-oDm3x6TgH35wOUTImQjdwUbG15F1MIr6nnpj34KBoC-jMQAvD_BwE

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