Guidance
on correct use of masks promoted by HSHS Illinois, Memorial Health
System, SIU Medicine, Springfield Clinic
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[August 14, 2020]
Masks worn in public to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 should cover the bridge of the nose, mouth and chin to be
most effective, local health-care providers say.
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The advice comes in the wake of Gov. J.B.
Pritzker’s amended statewide stay-at-home order, which began May 1
and runs through May 30. The order says people must wear a
face-covering or mask when in a public place or when working and
unable to maintain a 6-foot social distance.
The amended order applies to anyone 2 and older who is “able to
medically tolerate a face covering.”
Memorial Health System, HSHS Illinois, Springfield Clinic and SIU
Medicine are partnering to share a poster with central Illinois
businesses that illustrates how masks and other face-coverings
should be worn.
Homemade masks and face-coverings can be used to comply with the
governor’s order.
“Because COVID-19 can be spread by people who aren’t exhibiting
symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends the use of face-coverings, primarily so wearers don’t
unknowingly infect others,” said Gina Carnduff, Memorial Health
System director of infection prevention.
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Coverings should be fitted to the wearer’s face, with
no gaps. When coverings are worn, the wearer should touch only the
loops and ties — not the front, and hands should be washed before
and after putting on the coverings, according to the poster.
Health officials emphasized the importance of the
guidelines in protecting community health.
“It is important that we continue to practice social distancing and
adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of
Public Health and the CDC,” said Dr. Gurpreet Mander, chief
physician executive for HSHS Illinois. “These practices are our best
defense against the spread of COVID-19."
The CDC website offers tips on how to make a homemade face-coverings
and masks from household materials.
[Dean Olsen | Media Relations
Consultant | Communications
Memorial Health System] |