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LifeHealthcoronaviruscovid-19

DIY Face Masks Aren't Effective Against COVID-19

Sewing may be soothing, but your DIY project isn't much of a barrier.
By 

Associate editor, HuffPost Canada

UPDATE - April 6, 2020: Canadian health officials have reconsidered their stance on mask usage and now advise Canadians wear non-medical masks to curb potentially infecting others when social distancing can’t be practiced.

This came after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control And Prevention made a similar change to their mask guidance. Scientific evidence still suggests that handmade face masks do not prevent COVID-19, but can help prevent asymptomatic carriers from transmitting the virus to people nearby by blocking droplets from breathing, talking, sneezing, or coughing.

Earlier:

With protective gear in short supply, some Canadians are turning to needles and thread spools to fashion homemade face masks. However, there’s little evidence the DIY masks prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Many popular mask patterns are geared as allergy season fighters, CNET reports, or are better suited to stop dust inhalation while cleaning.

Watch the video above to find out what you should really be doing to keep yourself safe from COVID-19.

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