If you need to leave your home, wear a cloth face covering.
The NH Department of Health and Human Services recommends all Granite Staters
wear cloth face coverings when outside of the home to help slow the spread of COVID19. This advice is based on new data about how COVID-19 can spread before a
person has any symptoms. A mask helps protect others around you if you are infected
and don’t know it.
A cloth face covering is one more precaution we can take to help slow the spread of
COVID-19 – and is not a substitute for physical distancing and other prevention
measures. You still need to stay at least 6 feet away from people, even when wearing
a face covering.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. These types of masks are
critical supplies that must be reserved for our health care workers and first responders. Please make your
own face coverings with household items.
What is a cloth face covering?
A cloth face covering is any well-secured cloth (like a bandana, scarf, or homemade mask) that covers your mouth
and nose. It does not adequately protect the wearer and is not a substitute for social distancing, but can protect others
in case the wearer is infected with COVID-19 and has not started showing symptoms. Cloth face coverings are
recommended to help preserve Personal Protective Equipment for frontline healthcare workers. For more information
about how to wear and make cloth face coverings, see the CDC website.
Why are you recommending this now?
There is a lot we are still learning about COVID-19. However, there is more evidence that people without
symptoms may be able to spread the virus, and that droplets produced when breathing, speaking, or clearing
your throat may spread COVID-19 from person-to-person. We continue to think staying home and practicing
physical distancing and good hand hygiene are the most important ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. By
recommending that Granite Staters use a face covering, we are adding one more action to help reduce the
spread.
Putting a cloth face covering on
With clean hands determine the outside of the cloth face covering and that should face away from you.
Grasp the cloth face covering by the ear loops and place a loop around each ear.
Make sure the cloth face covering covers your mouth AND nose.
Avoid touching the front of your cloth face covering while it is in place.
If it becomes soiled you should replace it.
If you touch the cloth face covering wash your hands.
Removing a cloth face covering
Grasp the ear loops and pull forward over your ears to remove.
Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth when removing it
Fold the cloth face covering so that the area facing outward, is folded over itself.
Place a cloth face covering in a plastic bag for laundering later, taking care not to touch it to the outside of
the plastic bag.
Remove and store cloth face covering properly and safely.
Immediately wash your hands after removing it.
Clean cloth face coverings daily, by hand or machine, using detergent.
A washing machine should suffice to properly wash a cloth face covering. Make sure it’s completely dry before
using. You should have a few on hand so you can rotate for washing.
Make your own.
CDC has instructions on making your own coverings in several different methods, including
machine or hand-sewn, a no-sew method with a t-shirt and scissors, and a no-sew method
with a bandana.
For more information, visit: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/
*Adapted from the Vermont Department of Health
