We hope that by offering free washable and reusable mask covers, cloth masks and scrub caps to healthcare and allied workers and the public we can aid in lessening the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Our priority is to ensure those people in high public contact positions who are deemed at lower risk (such as Disability workers, Police, Aged Care workers) can access masks to stop asymptomatic carriers of the virus transferring it amongst the population. We do not know who in the community is infected and new research shows people can spread the virus for several days before showing symptoms so it is best to assume anyone may be infected and spreading the virus.
Obviously a cloth face mask is not as effective as accredited PPE but current research shows it can minimise the spread of the virus. A homemade cloth face mask can prevent droplets containing the virus (from coughing or sneezing or even just breathing) from potentially traveling to the eyes, nose or mouth of other people and possibly infecting them. A cloth face mask is not ideal, but in a crisis situation where access to PPE is scarce, alternatives like cloth masks can supplement the supply and thus reserve approved PPE for those who need them most.