Compliant masks can be improvised from everyday household materials
Starting Wednesday morning, everyone over 12 years old must wear a face covering when out doing essential tasks in specific settings.
Those specific types of places when everyone must wear a mask include the following:
- shopping at a store
- waiting in line to enter a store
- using or waiting for public transportation
- in a taxi or rideshare
- seeking healthcare
- working at an essential job
You will not be allowed to enter a business or use shared transportation if you are not wearing a face covering.
There are limited exceptions to the requirement for people who have physical disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering, are not able to take a face covering off without help, or who have documentation from a medical professional saying they should not wear one.
Children 2 years or younger should not wear face coverings due to risk of suffocation. For children 3-12 years old, face coverings are optional and should be used only with a parents' supervision.
Face coverings protect the people around you
A face covering will not protect you from catching COVID-19, and should be used as an additional requirement staying home except for essential tasks, social distancing when out, and practicing healthy behaviors like washing your hands regularly. Face coverings don't substitute for any of those critical acts.
When face coverings aren’t required
You don't have to wear a face covering when you're:
- at home
- in a car alone or with members of your household
- when exercising outdoors
Even though masks aren't required for outdoor exercise, you should take extra precautions to protect the people around you. Running and bicycling causes people to expel airborne particles more forcefully, which makes the usual minimum 6 feet distance less adequate. If you can, cross the street to avoid sidewalks with pedestrians. Carry a face covering with you and put it on when it is not possible to stay more than 6 feet apart from others.
Improvise face coverings from materials at home
You don't need to buy any special equipment to comply with face covering requirements. Simple, do-it-yourself face coverings are fine. You can improvise using a scarf, bandana, neck gaiter, t-shirt, or towel.
Use CDC tutorials to make your own face covering at home:
- Step-by-step instructions for sew and no-sew masks
- Video demonstration: make a no-sew mask from a t-shirt
Your mask should be comfortable and allow you to breathe normally through your nose. Make sure it fits well - you should avoid touching your face or adjusting your mask once you've put it on.
Wash your face covering after each use.
Donate cloth masks to the City of Berkeley
We're accepting donations of homemade cloth masks in addition to other supplies needed to support our essential staff respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are able to donate masks or any of the other items we're seeking, please complete our donation form. Someone from our team will call you back to provide next steps.
