Deborah Prescott | Daily Press Dawn Williams, left, shows how not to wear a mask at work, while Kristal Soper demonstrates how to properly wear a mask. Facial masks should not hang from one ear, leave the nose exposed, or worn under the chin.

ESCANABA — As businesses in the Upper Peninsula re-open during the coronavirus pandemic, it is advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people to protect themselves and others by wearing a face mask properly.

“It is recommended by the CDC to wear a cloth face cover when you have to go out into public spaces,” said OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Infection Preventionist Nicole Pirlot. “The CDC does not recommend face coverings for young children under two, anyone who has trouble breathing, (is) unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove a mask without assistance.”

To put a mask on, hold the earloops of the mask and hook them behind the ears. The mask should cover the chin, mouth, and nose for a good fit. Masks should not be worn with the nose exposed, under the chin, or hanging from one ear.

While wearing a mask avoid touching the face and face covering. If you happen to touch your face or the mask, wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol and rub hands together until they are dry.

“As you go about your business wearing it (the mask), avoid touching it. If you do touch it, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water. Assume the mask is carrying germs,” said Pirlot. “Even when you want to speak more clearly, don’t be tempted to grab your mask and pull it below your chin.”

Remove the mask by the earloops and pull it straight away from the face and store it in a paper or plastic bag. Fold the mask in half with the side next to the mouth on the inside. Wash cloth masks with hot or warm water after daily use and dry on the hottest setting.

Homemade facial coverings and non-medical masks will not protect the person wearing the mask, said Pirlot. Wearing a mask protects others from inhaling your droplets when coughing, sneezing or talking.

“When you wear a cloth mask you are protecting me from you. It will keep your coughs, sneezes and other droplets out of the air. When I wear a mask, I am protecting you from me,” said Pirlot.

Medical-grade personal protective equipment worn by health care professionals does protect them from infectious patients.

Men with facial hair do not have to shave it off when wearing a cloth mask.

“There is a greater concern for beards with fitted respirators, such as N95 masks. Since cloth masks are never a perfect fit, (they) do not require a seal and ‘fit testing’ is not conducted to wear one. Facial hair is not really a concern when wearing a cloth mask,” Pirlot noted.

In addition to wearing masks properly, wear them in public places, indoors or out in spaces with groups of people, continue to keep 6-feet apart, and stay home when you can.