For every one of us, wearing a face mask significantly reduces the risk of being contaminated and of contamining others, and thus reduces the propagation of the virus. So the reflex must be:
Stay masked!
The best mask is the one everybody wears!
In short
In line with many international organisms, we believe that wearing a mask in public spaces should be recommended immediately, and made mandatory as soon as possible. The mask is a complement to other measures (social distanciation, hygiene), not a replacement.
As long as the national manufacturing capacity is insufficient to supply the whole population (see our recommendation ), homemade masks or any kind of facial protection can be used.
Wearing the mask
My masks are stored close to the front door, and I use them as follows:
- On exiting home
- I carry a small plastic bag or ziploc back
- I wash my hands thoroughly
- I immediately put on the mask, checking the fit
- While out of home
- I constantly keep the mask on, without displacing it or touching it.
- Upon returning
- I wash my hands thoroughly
- I take the mask off by its ties and put it in the ziploc bag
- I get rid of it -- or I wash it (and iron it !)
- I wash my hands thoroughly
See also here for more detail.
Useful links
- Practical advice from the French Academy of Medecine : recommendation (Apr 2nd) and call to citizens (Apr 22nd) (in French)
- Recommendations from the French Scientific Committee (in French)
- An advanced, easy to understand site (in French), by physicians from the Lille region (tutorials for making and wearing)
- AFNOR (tutorial by the French standards agency)
- General advice from the French Society for Sterilisation (in French)
- An initiative in Czech Republic (information, tutorials).
- The opinion and recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization)
You can also make your own masks at home, without any sewing:
- with a scarf and rubber bands (shown by Maya)
- with a T-shirt
- with a sock, see here
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