Ferris Covenant Church hands out free masks

FERRIS – Members of Covenant Church in Ferris met at the Snap Fitness on 664 this past weekend to handout masks to those in need due to the COVID-19 orders and to help slow the spread of the pandemic.

Church pastor Michael Masek said they were giving away 1,200 masks, which the church had purchased.

“We will be here until noon and might be doing this again next week if there is a need,” Masek said.

The masks are made of single fabric such as a cotton t-shirt, and the material are rewashable and can be reworn. The masks are also cut to the design the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has described at its website.

There are two sizes of masks: adults and children.

According to the CDC website, it is important to remember the cloth face coverings should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; be secured with ties or ear loops; include multiple layers of fabric; allow for breathing without restriction and be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.

“The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies),” the website said, “especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.