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Dr. Russ Harris - Acceptance Commitment Therapy

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FACE COVID – How To Respond Effectively To The Corona Crisis

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WHO teams up with Minions and Gru to show how people can stay safe from COVID-19

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What the HSE say about wearing masks/face coverings

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Last updated: 16 May 2020 at 20.30pm

Wearing a cloth face covering is recommended in situations where it is difficult to practice social distancing. For example, in shops and on public transport. They may help prevent people who do not know they have the virus from spreading it to others.

If you wear one, you should still do the important things necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.

These include:

social distancing

covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze

washing your hands properly and often

not touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Read our advice on how to protect yourself and others.

Cloth face coverings

A cloth face covering is a material you wear that covers the nose and mouth.

Wearing a cloth face covering in public may reduce the spread of coronavirus in the community. It may help to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets from people infected with coronavirus.

Cloth face coverings may help to stop people who are not aware they have the virus from spreading.

If you have coronavirus or have symptoms of coronavirus, you must self-isolate. Do this even if you wear a face covering.

When to wear one

You may choose to wear a cloth face covering:

when staying 2 metres apart from people is difficult - for example, in shops, shopping centres or public transport

in an enclosed indoor space with other people

What they are made from

Cloth face coverings are made from materials such as cotton or silk.

You can buy them or make them at home using items such as scarfs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.

Who should not wear one

Cloth face coverings are not suitable for children under the age of 13 and anyone who:

has trouble breathing

is unconscious or incapacitated

is unable to remove it without help

has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing the face covering

Do not criticise or judge people who are not able to wear a face covering.

How to wear one

A cloth face covering should cover the nose and go under the chin and:

fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face

be secured with ties or ear loops

include at least 2 layers of fabric

allow for breathing without restriction

How to wash one

Wash daily in a hot wash over 60 degrees with detergent.

If using a washing machine, you should be able to wash and machine dry it without damage or change to shape.

You do not need to sterilise cloth face coverings. Wash it in a washing machine or by hand as you would any other item of clothing.

Wash hands before and after use.

How to make one

To make a cloth face covering at home:

1. Cut two rectangles of tightly-woven cotton about 25cm x 15cm.

2. Fold and stitch the top and bottom edges.

3. Fold and stitch the side edges, leaving a gap big enough to thread elastic through.

4. Thread two 15cm lengths of elastic through the side edges and tie tight. Hair ties or string, cut longer and tied behind the head, will work.

5. Tuck elastic knots inside the edges of the mask and stitch in place for a neater finish.

Read GOV.ie advice on making a cloth face covering.

Read U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice on homemade cloth face coverings.

When to throw it out

You should throw out a cloth face covering when it:

no longer covers the nose and mouth

has stretched out or damaged ties or straps

cannot stay on the face

has holes or tears in the fabric

How to use a cloth face covering properly

Tie it securely.

Do not share face coverings.

Taking a cloth face covering off

To take a face covering off properly:

remove it from behind - do not touch the front of the mask

put in a sealable clean waterproof bag or wash immediately - put disposable masks in a bin straight away

clean your hands properly

Medical face masks

Medical masks are for healthcare workers. Some workers in specific jobs also use them. They are vital supplies and are not intended for use by the public in the community. We want to try and make sure that medical face masks are kept for health care workers.

Disposable gloves

Do not wear disposable gloves instead of washing your hands. The virus gets on them in the same way it gets on your hands. Also, your hands can get contaminated when you take them off.

Disposable gloves are worn in medical settings. They are not as effective in daily life.

Wearing disposable gloves can give you a false sense of security.

You might:

sneeze or cough into the gloves - this creates a new surface for the virus to live on

contaminate yourself when taking off the gloves or touching surfaces

not wash your hands as often as you need to and touch your face with contaminated gloves

How to properly wash your hands and avoid infection
Related topics
Shopping safely during the coronavirus pandemic How coronavirus is spread Protect yourself and others from coronavirus

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Last updated: 16 May 2020 at 20.30pm Wearing a cloth face covering is recommended in situations where it is difficult to practice social distancing. For example, in shops and on public transport. They may help prevent people who do not know they have the virus from spreading it to others.