NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Center for Disease Control is suggesting everyone wear some type of covering over their face, even a cloth mask, when going out in public.
After the announcement was made, Metro Council Member Kathleen Murphy put her sewing skills to work. So far, she’s made an estimated 35 to 40 masks for other city leaders, including the mayor, her family and friends.
“I’m happy that I’m able to give back to my community when we are so shut in and not able to see people and we kind of feel disconnected,“ said Murphy.
The CDC says washable cloth masks could benefit people as they conduct essential tasks. The cloth, though not as effective as medical-grade masks, could block someone from spreading coronavirus if they contracted it and aren’t yet showing symptoms.
Murphy also works for Tennessee Nurses Association. She said her work helped her realize the need for masks.
“Nurses and healthcare providers do need that protection and they should never have to worry or fear that they will not be protected and have the gear that they need to provide the care for their patients,” she said.
One issue with the masks is officials aren't sure how effective they are. According to Dr. David Aronoff of Vanderbilt’s Division of Infectious Disease, it’s likely there’s a benefit, but it’s not been tested thoroughly.
“They do provide some filtration,” said dr. Aronoff. “It’s not 0 and certainly larger droplets of water that we breathe and can’t see may well be blocked to some extent by these cloth masks. So, they probably do something. They just don’t work at the level of the same equipment that we use in a hospital.”
The N95 masks doctors use at hospitals are getting difficult to find, but the cloth masks are washable and potentially reusable according to the CDC.
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See all our coronavirus coverage here
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE
What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
Prevention
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
