It seems there’s bad news for the summer. It’s far from over . . . COVID that is.

For instance, there’s this from The Washington Post on May 18 . . .

“Top Biden administration officials warned Wednesday that one-third of Americans live in communities experiencing rising levels of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations and urged them to resume taking personal protection measures, including wearing masks.

“The increase in new infections – nearing 100,000 a day – comes as the nation heads into Memorial Day weekend with its large gatherings and travel. That case count is almost certainly an undercount, officials said, given the widespread use of at-home tests for which results are often not reported to health officials.

“Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strongly encouraged [people] to consider wearing masks in indoor public spaces and taking other steps to protect themselves.”

Are you prepared? Do you have the masks and hand sanitizer you need to keep you and your family safe and infection free?

No?

Don’t worry. Here at Bandana.com we’ve got you covered for all your PPE needs – and at affordable prices, too.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

So what does the CDC recommend that you do to protect yourself during this summer’s resurgence of the virus?

The COVID virus is spread primarily (consensus has it) through close personal contact. When infected people cough or sneeze, nearby uninfected people breathe in the droplets or aerosol thus produced and so become infected themselves. So if you have to go out in public or be part of a group setting, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and other people, and be sure to wear (at a minimum) a disposable face mask.

The CDC also recommends the following safety measures . . .

• “Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.”
• “If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces or your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.”
• “Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.”
• “Avoid close contact with people who are sick.”
• “Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at a higher risk of getting very sick.”

We all have a responsibility to protect other people. And that means doing the following if you are sick:

• Staying home and away from other people when practicable
• Covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Washing hands frequently or cleaning with hand sanitizer
• Wearing a face when around other people
• Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces you come in contact with

Face-Mask Recommendations and Guidelines

The CDC’s two most important masking guidelines are . . .

• “Masking is a critical public health tool, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask.”
• “Wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., an expert in infection prevention, also weighed in on the face mask issue. And here’s what she had to say . . .

Face masks can indeed help prevent the spread of the virus. “Since the coronavirus can spread through droplets and particles released into the air by speaking, singing, coughing or sneezing, masks are very helpful to prevent the virus from spreading in crowded indoor public places, especially those that contain a mixture of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.”

Also, according to Maragakis, “the most important things you can do are to choose a mask that fits well, and wear it consistently and properly when it is recommended or in situations that you are required to do so.” And for optimum protection from your face mask, she says you should make sure . . .

• “You clean your hands with soap or hand sanitizer before putting the mask on or taking it off.
• It is worn consistently and appropriately. A mask that is frequently pulled down to breathe or talk, or is worn under the nose, is not effective.
• The mask conforms to your face without gaps – it is important that most of the air you breathe in and out flows through the mask rather than around the mask through gaps at the sides, top or bottom.
• Your cloth mask is made from several layers of tightly woven fabric and fits well over your nose and mouth to be an effective filter.
• The mask has a flexible nose bridge to conform to the face and prevent fogging of eyeglasses.
• It stays in place while talking and moving, so it can be worn without slipping and so it does not require you to touch it frequently.
• The mask is comfortable enough to wear without adjusting it for the time you need to keep it on.”

Types of Face Masks

The most common options in face masks are the following . . .

Cloth Masks

Cloth face masks are most often found in non-healthcare settings. They are typically made of multiple layers of fabric and provide excellent barriers against respiratory droplets to prevent transmission of the virus.

Procedural and Surgical Masks

“These are loose-fitting masks designed to cover the mouth and nose. Medical-grade surgical or procedural masks provide excellent protection due to their filtration and fluid resistance. A simple ‘knot and tuck’ technique can be used to improve the fit of rectangular surgical or procedural masks.”

N95 Respirators

“N95 respirators offer a higher level of filtration than cloth, surgical or procedural masks. However, they are not necessary to protect people from the virus under normal circumstances. In order to be optimally effective, respirators must be fit-tested and worn properly, tightly fitted against the person’s face.” They are most often “used by medical professionals caring for patients with COVID-19, and when performing high-risk or aerosol-generating procedures.”

Bandana.com’s Protective Face Masks

We offer several options in effective, affordable face-mask protection, for example . . .

KN95 Disposable Face Mask

This face mask, while not an N95 respirator, provides effective protection against COVID-19. It is fluid resistant and can help filter out dust, bacteria, smoke, and pollen. It is designed for single use only, you don’t have to worry about washing or contamination from re-use.

Reusable 2-Ply Cotton Face Mask with Elastic Band

With 2 plys of 100% cotton, this mask offers double protection. It is designed to withstand washing – just hand wash and air dry – and is thus reusable, which means you save money because you don’t have to throw it away every time you wear it. It also comes in a multitude of color options from black to grape to Kelly green to royal blue and more.

3-Ply Disposable Face Mask with Ear Loop

You get triple protection with this 3-ply disposable mask. In addition, it is soft and easy to breathe through, is fluid resistant, and helps to filter out dust, bacteria, smoke, and pollen. And because it’s a disposable mask, you don’t have to bother with washing and drying.

An Alternative Face Mask

If you run short of face masks or just need an alternative covering in an emergency, you can always use a scarf or bandana in a pinch.

Here’s what the CDC says . . .

“In settings where facemasks are not available, [healthcare personnel] might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. . . . Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.”

Our affordable 22″x22″ bandanas, available in a wide variety of patterns and prints, will serve admirably in this role. While the CDC does advise caution with the use of this kind of alternative face mask, bandanas do provide some measure of protection. And when a bandana is used in conjunction with a face mask, it becomes a more effective preventive measure due to the double protection.

Where to Get Your Life-Saving PPE

Be prepared for this summer’s predicted COVID resurgence.

Here at Bandana.com, we have the PPE you need to stay safe and healthy while enjoying all the summer has to offer.

To discover more about us and our quality, affordable products, you can contact us here.