Masks and cloth coverings are expected to become more prevalent in the days to come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially recommended that the general public wear masks or face coverings to help combat continues to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19).
But while Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton agrees with the recommendation and said that masks can be useful in helping prevent the spread of coronavirus, she also warned that it's not a substitute for physical distancing.
"I need your help, Ohio," Acton said. "I need you to wear both the cape and the mask, now -- you're definitely a masked crusader -- to help protect each other. It's beautiful weather and I need you to understand we're fighting for lives now trying to cure stuff like this."
Both Acton and Governor Mike DeWine also reiterated that the CDC is recommending the public wear cloth coverings and not the N95 medical-grade masks that are in high demand for doctors and nurses. Acton also said there are specific cloths that should be used when making such masks and that the state will be releasing a video sharing how to make your own.
Acton estimated that such masks are 80 percent effective in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
As of Saturday, Ohio has had 3,739 confirmed coronavirus cases, 1,006 of which have resulted in hospitalization, 326 ICU admissions and 102 deaths. Dating back to the discovery of the state's first positive coronavirus case on March 9, DeWine has taken several measures to encourage physical distancing, including a stay-at-home order that is currently in place until at least May 1.