Douglas County Health Department experts are now recommending residents wear masks in public as a precaution.

“Wearing a homemade mask in public helps reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said in a statement.

The recommendation calls for cloth face coverings, not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Access to those critical supplies should be reserved for health care workers and first responders, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pour said wearing a mask is particularly important when seeking help from first responders, but it is also recommended for situations like grocery stores and other retail outlets where maintaining 6 feet of separation is difficult.

“Remember, my mask protects you, and your mask protects me,” Pour said.

The CDC says 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; and be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

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