Dr. Christine Eady MannVerified account

5. The virus can linger in hair. Respiratory droplets from people breathing, coughing, & sneezing can land in your hair & you can infect yourself from there when you touch your hair then face. Healthcare workers wear head covers because of this.

6. Your mask loses effectiveness as it gathers moisture from your breathing inside it. It should not be worn for extended periods of time.

7. Your mask becomes contaminated when it is exposed to the virus. When you take it off, do it outside or in your garage, grasping it with one finger by the ear straps and put it in the trash. Immediately do thorough hand washing or sanitizing. Cloth masks should be washed.

We don’t know yet how long viral particles can live in the nooks and crannies of cloth masks.

8. Masks are *meant* to protect other people from you, not you from other people. Mask wearing works best if sick people have them on.

9. Consider the social consequences and harm to communities of color when they wear masks. Do not socially shame them if they make a different decision than you.

10. Lastly, and I cannot emphasize this enough: STAY HOME and don’t let mask wearing be an excuse for resuming activities that put you near other people. Much love and stay safe, y’all.

I've been going up to my roof for fresh air rather than go out in public. Should I wear a mask when out there by myself? Also, can we sterilize cloth masks by boiling and air drying?