This will be a major change in guidance from the federal government. As early as tomorrow, the White House will announce that all Americans begin to wear face masks or coverings in public to slow the spread of coronavirus. The Washington Post reports:

“White House coronavirus task force officials have been considering whether to recommend that face coverings be routinely worn in public because of increasing evidence that infected people without symptoms can spread the virus, according to internal memos and new guidance provided to the White House by the CDC.

“In light of these new data, along with evidence of widespread transmission in communities across the country, CDC recommends the community use of cloth masks as an additional public health measure people can take to prevent the spread of virus to those around them,” according to the guidance, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.“

Previously, those not involved in the healthcare of patients were discouraged from wearing the N-95 masks because it would further limit supply to those who most need them.

But the Post writes: “The memos and guidance make clear the coverings under discussion are not medical masks, such as N95 respirators or surgical face masks, which are needed by front-line health-care workers and are in extremely short supply. Those must continue to be reserved for health-care workers and other first responders, they say.“

What the CDC is proposing are simple cloth masks that cover the mouth and nose.