A simple three-layered cotton cloth mask is enough to prevent COVID-19 infection from possible exposure to droplets that may otherwise enter through nose or mouth. Therefore, people do not have to unnecessarily hoard or purchase only surgical masks or N-95 masks for the general use of masks for protection against COVID-19.

There are certain guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. on how cloth face covering should be used.

As per the CDC, face-covering should:

• Fit closely but comfortably against the side of the face and bridge of the nose
• Include multiple layers of fabric
• Comfortably allow for breathing without any restrictions
• Be able to be washed and machine dried without any damage to the fabric or stitching

It is advised to use a simple cotton cloth mask covering as prevention against coronavirus. It can be comfortably made at home from common materials at an extremely low cost. These are reusable as well.

However, they should be routinely washed and dried, depending on the frequency of use. A machine wash is enough to maintain mask hygiene.

There is a DIY tutorial available as well, provided by CDC, on how to make a cotton face mask at home.