Mayor Walsh shares tutorial on how to make a face covering

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today shared with residents a tutorial and guidance on how to make a face covering at home, given new statewide guidance that mandates that all residents wear a face covering when in public places, and when unable to practice social distancing. The mandate goes into effect on May 6, and builds on Mayor Walsh's continued call for residents to wear a face covering when outside of the home.

"We need to do everything we can to help people understand the importance of wearing a face covering whenever you leave your home and you're near other people. This is about protecting everyone you come into contact with, especially since you could be sick without knowing it," said Mayor Walsh. "It's easy to make your own face covering and we want to empower every resident with the information they need. We are already seeing the results that our actions are having to limit the spread of the virus, and this will go a long way toward keeping our residents safe." 

• A face covering may include any intact, close-weave cloth that allows comfortable breathing and that covers your nose and mouth, including a mask, scarf or bandana. 

• Face coverings should not be placed on children under 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance. 

• Face coverings should be frequently washed using a washing machine with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. They can also be hand washed with soap and warm water and left to dry. 

• It is advised that residents use a face covering, as opposed to a medical grade facemasks, in order to preserve protective equipment for health workers and those serving on the front lines in response to COVID-19. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance. 

Graphic also available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, and Arabic. Further guidance on how to make a cloth mask is available from the CDC here. 

• In effect on May 6, the statewide face covering order requires all residents over the age of two years old to use a face covering in public places where proper social distancing measures are not possible. 

• The order applies to all workers and customers of businesses and other organizations that are currently open to the public and permitted to operate as an essential business. Residents are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when using any means of transportation service or public mass transit. 

• Enforcement of the face covering mandate is being authorized at the local level, allowing the City of Boston to enforce these new measures. 

For more information on face coverings for COVID-19, please click here.