Utah doctor: Wearing a mask benefits community but staying home is better


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SALT LAKE CITY — All of those cloth masks some of our neighbors have been sewing to slow the spread of COVID-19 may be in demand after all. Until Friday, officials with the Centers for Disease Control had said Americans do not need to wear masks unless they are sick or a healthcare provider.

But now, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask on a voluntary basis.

That recommendation is for cloth masks or even a bandanna — not the medical masks or N95 respirators worn by healthcare professionals. Our communities need to reserve those masks for the people on the front lines of the pandemic.

But one infectious disease doctor believes a cloth mask is not a bad idea, as long as we don’t get a false sense of security.

“It really is not a benefit to the person wearing the mask,” said Dr. Eddie Stenehjem with Intermountain Healthcare. “It’s a benefit to the community.”

Stenehjem said if Utahns want to wear a cloth mask or bandanna when they go to the grocery store or other places where you might encounter people, it’s not a bad idea.

“I think wearing a mask is completely OK and appropriate,” he said. “I think it’s more socially responsible to stay at home and stay safe like the governor has recommended.”

A cloth mask does not protect the person wearing the mask from catching COVID-19, Stenehjem said. But it can help that person from spreading germs to others.


This does not replace social distancing.

–Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, Intermountain Healthcare


“The use of those is really to prevent the spread of virus from a person who has a virus, and hasn’t shown symptoms yet, and spread that virus into the community,” he said. “So, it’s another way to protect the community from transmission of viruses.”

However, wearing a mask is not as protective as staying home, staying at least six feet from other people and avoiding large groups.

“This is an added benefit to our community, and it should not by any means change our view of how important social distancing is,” Stenehjem said. “This does not replace social distancing.”

There’s not a lot of evidence on the difference a mask makes, he said.

“We still don’t know the impact on the community level of wearing masks,” Stenehjem said. “So, it’s an area of science that we just don’t have a definitive answer.”

That’s why we had not seen a recommendation from the CDC or World Health Organization until Friday. Social distancing remains our best weapon in this battle.

“This is going to be the new norm for a number of weeks, and whether we use masks or not it’s social distancing at the core,” said Stenehjem.

If we stay home and stay safe, we do not need to wear masks. If you run emergency errands, it’s not a bad idea to wear a cloth mask.

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Jed Boal

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