STAR JOURNAL

Many community members have stepped up…or sat down at their sewing machines recently to make homemade cloth face masks for friends and relatives to wear during the COVID-19 health emergency.

Now that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that cloth face coverings be worn in public, the Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) is asking those who make the masks to also donate any amount they can to them.

Wearing these masks in public facilities will help slow the spread of the virus. Research shows that a large portion of individuals with coronavirus (COVID-19) lack symptoms and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close settings.

For example this may happen when people are speaking, coughing, or sneezing, even if those people are not showing symptoms. Wearing a mask will decrease the risk of giving or getting the virus.

Donations can be dropped off 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) reception desk, on the first floor of the DRC and Health Department building located near Trig’s in Rhinelander. Place donated masks in a sealed bag with an attached card that includes the donor’s name and mailing address.

OCHD will collect the donated masks and wrap each one individually to give to local areas of need.

If you would like to donate but are unable to drop off, or for more information, call Sherri at 715-369-6111 between 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p..m.