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JAMESTOWN – Starting tonight at 8 p.m. all New Yorkers must wear a mask or some type of face covering when in a situation where they cannot be within a 6-foot social distance range.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo says while this may be inconvenient, it’s another step New Yorkers should take to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“So, is this inconvenient? Yes, but you’re in a closed environment, by definition. You’re not socially distancing, by definition. You’re the front seat of a car to the back seat of a car. You’re one seat in a bus to another seat in a bus. This is a precaution for everyone that I think balances individual liberties with a social conscience,” Cuomo said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those supplies must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.
The CDC has some tips on best methods to wear face coverings:
- 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
- be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Furthermore, health officials say cloth masks should be washed routinely depending on the frequency of use. Individuals should also be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.
So, how do we make cloth face coverings? Here is what the CDC recommends:
Sewn Cloth Face Covering

Materials
- Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric
- Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
- Needle and thread (or bobby pin)
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
Tutorial
1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.
2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.
3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight.
Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head.
4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.
Quick Cut T-shirt Face Covering (no sew method)
Materials
- T-shirt
- Scissors
Tutorial



Bandana Face Covering (no sew method)
Materials
- Bandana (or square cotton cloth approximately 20”x20”)
- Rubber bands (or hair ties)
- Scissors (if you are cutting your own cloth)
Tutorial






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