2022 COVID Continues Update
Even as most municipalities have dropped all mask requirements, many folks still want to keep safe when out shopping. While it’s not as hard to find masks these days, ensure you’re buying from reputable suppliers with these resources.
- Project N95 is a great place to buy your own masks, as well as help donate them to those in need.
- The CDC lists approved N95 respirator manufacturers and specific products.
- Thge NY Time’s Wirecutter team rates the top cloth-covered filter masks, for those who want style with protection.
Pre-2022 Content for Arlington during COVID
Donate Masks Or PPE
Now that many local towns require masks, and the CDC recommends wearing cloth masks when going out, we’re all wondering where to get one for ourselves, or where to donate extra masks or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to those who need them.
- Donate Masks To Arlington - the town has a simple form for listing what masks (N95, surgical, fabric) or PPE you can donate to first responders and hospitals, and showcases how many donations have been made.
- MaskOn builds full masks for hospital use, and a local Arlingtonian is working with AHS students as a distribution point for them.
- Mask Match - Works directly with healthcare peeps who need masks and individual donors, so you can mail masks directly to someone in need.
- GetUsPPE - Map of hospitals and other locations that accept donations of PPE.
- Project N95 - working with suppliers to get PPE masks and supplies to the right places.
Make Your Own Masks
Reminder: hospitals often have restrictions on designs or materials - but first responders, the elderly, and plenty of other people need masks too! All masks you make will be useful.
- Laura’s Sewing School right here in Arlington has mask-making organized, with patterns, supply kits, and helps distribute directly to groups in town in need.
- Maker Mask provides designs that incorporate fabric from reuseable shopping bags, including some links to research on effectiveness.
- Masks For All aims to be a comprehensive website about the benefits of wearing home-made masks; site translated into multiple languages so very useful for some communities.
- Coronavirus Tech Handbook - Masks - is a laundry list of various how-to guides, programs, and scientific research on different kinds of masks. Well worth reading to find some serious research about mask effectiveness and best practices.
Buying A Mask
With many of the regular retailers sold out, or backordered, it takes some planning. See a list of Arlingtonians selling masks - many are using great patterns with good designs and different sizes. There are also many sites or videos online for making simple masks out of bandannas, t-shirts, or best yet: high thread count sheets.
Remember to always put your mask on safely - a contaminated mask (from handling the inside with dirty fingers) doesn’t help as much.
Masks Required In Public Spaces - pre-2021
Arlington town government has issued a “Wear A Face Covering in Public” Advisory in public for all residents over the age of 5. See how other local towns and cites are handling this guidance about staying safe in public from the CDC.
- MA State advisory recommending wearing masks from 10-April (translated to multiple languages).
- Boston strongly urges mask use, and has a Public Health Advisory asking everyone except essential workers to stay home between 9PM - 6AM.
- Belmont issued a Temporary Emergency Regulation requiring masks in essential businesses; issued 28-April.
- Cambridge emergency order requiring masks in public; issued 29-April; non-compliance fine of $300.
- Somerville has a mandatory advisory on wearing masks; issued 29-April; non-compliance fine of $300.
- Medford requires masks in Essential Businesses; issued 1-April; but does not yet require them in public.
- Winchester strongly advises people to wear masks in public.
- Lexington, Burlington, Watertown, Waltham do not have any specific mask orders. (As of 29 April)
Got More Ideas?
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Save N95 masks for the hospitals!