07/06/2020
WEARING A FACE COVERING
A cloth face covering is NOT PPE. They are not intended for the personal protection of the wearer – they are designed to prevent people who have COVID-19, but might not know it, from spreading it to others. In simple terms, if I wear one I protect you, if you wear one you protect me.
A cloth face covering can be very simple. The important thing is that it should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.
Face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing or washing your hands regularly – and they need to complement these behaviours. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off. Try not to touch your face, or the face covering while you are wearing it.
Once removed, make sure you clean any surfaces the face covering has touched. Regular household cleaner works fine.
After wearing them store your worn face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them. You should wash a face covering regularly. It can go in with other laundry, using your normal laundry detergent. It does not need to be a hot wash, it’s the detergent which destroys the virus.