There are plenty of resources to help you make a face mask at home.
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You’re starting to see homemade masks and face coverings everywhere you go — from masks with elastic straps to bandanas being worn around the face while out in public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation as of late last week is for people to voluntarily wear cloth face coverings in public, in places where the risk of transmitting the coronavirus from person to person is higher. We understand you must have questions, so we’re breaking down how this came to be and what you need to know about making, wearing, buying and donating masks.
Let’s briefly start with how homemade face masks became so huge, and why. Even before the CDC’s new recommendation, there’s been a growing grassroots trend of making face masks at home out of common materials such as cotton fabric, elastic and sometimes a filter material. If you’re considering making your own face mask for personal use, we’d like to provide some helpful resources and information before you begin.
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The main issue at hand is the severe shortage of N95 masks, which help protect medical professionals like doctors and nurses from acquiring the coronavirus. Another type of medical-grade mask, surgical masks — which aren’t proven to effectively block out the tiniest particles that can transmit the respiratory virus — are also in short supply. Stores such as Amazon and Target have stopped selling N95 masks to the public in response to the shortage.
That’s where homemade masks come in. Although they may not be able to block out every particle, they can help in some circumstances (more below).
Homemade masks come in a variety of patterns and styles, so you’ll want to know the different options available to you — and some hospitals recommend certain designs over others. We’ll also explain the materials you need to make a mask, where to buy premade masks and where to donate extra masks you make.
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Remember that there’s no strong evidence that homemade masks and face coverings can keep you from acquiring the coronavirus, but we do lay out some potential benefits below to wearing something on your face when you leave the house.
It’s important to remember that homemade and hand-sewn face masks should be used in combination with appropriate social distancing on walks and in stores, and that thorough hand-washing is still the most advocated medical advice for healthy people to avoid acquiring the virus.
One hand-sewn face mask pattern.
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Face mask vs. face covering: What’s the difference?
The CDC stresses the use of “face coverings” in its recommendation, not necessarily “face masks.” So what’s the difference? A face covering can be any cloth that covers the nose and mouth, including a scarf or bandana wrapped around the face.
A face mask refers to a more specific shape that usually involves material that’s more fitted to the nose, mouth and skull, as through the use of ear straps.
It’s possible that “face covering” is used to differentiate coverings from surgical and N95 respirator masks that are so critically low in hospitals in New York and the rest of the country.
Here’s what the CDC says: “Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.”
How homemade face masks can help
Homemade face mask patterns were available online before the coronavirus pandemic began. Most of them are intended to block out large particles such as dust; air pollution from cars, factories or ash; and allergens such as pollen.
Non-N95 face masks or coverings may not be able to block the smallest particles, but there are some benefits to wearing one, in addition to following other precautions:
May block large particles ejected from sneezing and coughing
Might help protect others from your sneezes and coughs if you acquired the virus but are otherwise asymptomatic and in public
Could encourage more mindful behavior, including avoiding touching one’s mouth, nose and eyes
Peace of mind
Where can I buy face masks if I don’t make my own?
We recommend washing any face masks you buy to sterilize them before use.
Where to find face mask patterns to make yourself
When you’re searching for patterns, look for one that goes above the nose and under the chin for maximum coverage. It should ideally fit snugly around your face. Sites such as Joann, a fabric and craft store, and Pinterest have patterns you can make, with how-to guides included.
Some patterns show a folded design. Others are shaped more like N95 or surgical masks.
If you’re volunteering to make face masks for a health care center or hospital that has requested them (more below), visit the hospital’s website — some point to patterns they prefer for you to use.
You can drop off face masks to Joann.
Joann
Materials you’ll need to make a face mask at home
To start a DIY face mask, you’ll want these supplies on hand:
Cotton fabric
Elastic
A sewing kit or sewing machine
A nonporous yet breathable material to go between the fabric (this may be detailed in a pattern)
Some designs call for filter material, which is added in an effort to block smaller particles
After you’re finished making the mask, it doesn’t hurt to sterilize it by throwing it in the washing machine or boiling it in water. Then let it air dry in an area with good airflow or that the sun hits, like in front of a window.
No-sew options if you can’t sew
If you don’t know where to begin when it comes to sewing, there’s a no-sew face mask option. Instead of sewing the fabric together, you can use fabric glue and an iron. The iron is used to fuse the fabric and glue together. You’ll also need to use the iron to create pleats in the fabric for a thicker mask.
If you don’t have any of those materials, you can use a scarf and a couple of hair ties or rubber bands to quickly make a face covering — again, this is intended for personal use.
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What to do if your ears get raw
If the elastic straps start to rub your ears painfully, you can make a headband with buttons. In this case, the elastic straps would go around the buttons, rather than your ears, making it potentially more comfortable to wear.
You can also use an S ring hook to attach the straps — take the straps and place them around each U of the ring. When you’re ready to wear the mask, the S ring should be located on the back of your head. This can also help the mask fit better around your face since the ring would help pull the straps snug.
You can also search the internet for local face mask donations near you. Make sure that you find out how these groups prefer to receive your face masks, and maintain social distancing and smart practices while you drop them off.
Are there places that require you to wear a mask?
While it’s highly recommended by the CDC for people to wear face coverings in public, it’s still optional. However, some cities are mandating that its residents wear masks when they go out in public. Laredo, Texas, is fining its residents $1,000 if they aren’t wearing face masks in public. Guthrie, Oklahoma, has made it mandatory to wear cloth masks within city limits. Even the Pentagon has issued a mandate for everyone at the Defense Department facilities to cover their faces.
To see if your city has issued a mandate, you can check with your local Chamber of Commerce or the Town Hall.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says it could be months before it reveals how many people are on the wait-list for a family doctor.
The head of the province’s health authority told reporters Wednesday that the government won’t release updated data until the 160,000 people who were on the wait-list in June are contacted to verify whether they still need primary care.
Karen Oldfield said Nova Scotia Health is working on validating the primary care wait-list data before posting new numbers, and that work may take a matter of months. The most recent public wait-list figures are from June 1, when 160,234 people, or about 16 per cent of the population, were on it.
“It’s going to take time to make 160,000 calls,” Oldfield said. “We are not talking weeks, we are talking months.”
The interim CEO and president of Nova Scotia Health said people on the list are being asked where they live, whether they still need a family doctor, and to give an update on their health.
A spokesperson with the province’s Health Department says the government and its health authority are “working hard” to turn the wait-list registry into a useful tool, adding that the data will be shared once it is validated.
Nova Scotia’s NDP are calling on Premier Tim Houston to immediately release statistics on how many people are looking for a family doctor. On Tuesday, the NDP introduced a bill that would require the health minister to make the number public every month.
“It is unacceptable for the list to be more than three months out of date,” NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday.
Chender said releasing this data regularly is vital so Nova Scotians can track the government’s progress on its main 2021 campaign promise: fixing health care.
The number of people in need of a family doctor has more than doubled between the 2021 summer election campaign and June 2024. Since September 2021 about 300 doctors have been added to the provincial health system, the Health Department said.
“We’ll know if Tim Houston is keeping his 2021 election promise to fix health care when Nova Scotians are attached to primary care,” Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador‘s chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says that so far this year, the province has recorded 230 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection, also known as pertussis.
Late last month, Quebec reported more than 11,000 cases during the same time period, while Ontario counted 470 cases, well above the five-year average of 98. In Quebec, the majority of patients are between the ages of 10 and 14.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick has declared a whooping cough outbreak across the province. A total of 141 cases were reported by last month, exceeding the five-year average of 34.
The disease can lead to severe complications among vulnerable populations including infants, who are at the highest risk of suffering from complications like pneumonia and seizures. Symptoms may start with a runny nose, mild fever and cough, then progress to severe coughing accompanied by a distinctive “whooping” sound during inhalation.
“The public, especially pregnant people and those in close contact with infants, are encouraged to be aware of symptoms related to pertussis and to ensure vaccinations are up to date,” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Department said in a statement.
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of the disease. As a result, the province has expanded immunization efforts this school year. While booster doses are already offered in Grade 9, the vaccine is now being offered to Grade 8 students as well.
Public health officials say whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to five or six years.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick’s acting chief medical officer of health expects the current case count to get worse before tapering off.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere. The Pan American Health Organization issued an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2024.
