In a change from previous guidance, the CDC now recommends the use of cloth face masks when leaving the house as part of a bundle of behavior-based practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. What’s the reason behind this change?
- The incubation period (time between exposure to the virus and when symptoms first appear) for COVID-19 is reported to be between 2-12 days for the majority of cases.
- New data suggest infected persons may be contagious 1-3 days before symptoms develop.
- The CDC estimates that at least 25% of persons infected with COVID-19 have no symptoms.
- Patients with less serious symptoms or no symptoms at all likely play an important role in how COVID-19 is spread.
- Wearing a cloth face mask when outside of the home may prevent those with no symptoms or mild symptoms from unknowingly spreading the virus to others, slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
- Cloth face masks may also provide some protection from exposure to the virus during times when social distancing isn’t possible, although not as effectively as surgical masks or N95 respirators which are currently in short supply and being prioritized as critical for healthcare workers.
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