FAQ On DIY Face Masks For Shopping Trips

COMIC: What Grocery Workers Need To Keep You Safely Fed

Shots Noam Galai/Getty Images What’s Behind The CDC’s About-Face On DIY Face Masks After more than a month of dismissing the need or value of face masks for casual use by the general public, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control And Prevention changed its recommendation this week. Homemade face coverings can be a useful addition to frequent hand-washing and social distancing measures, the CDC now says, to help prevent the mask wearer from inadvertently transmitting an infection to somebody else, under certain conditions. Confused?   The change is based on accumulating evidence that some people who get infected but haven’t yet developed obvious symptoms may already be transmitting the virus – likely via the occasional cough, sneeze or even breath. If that person happens to be you, the CDC reasons, and you wear a DIY face mask when you shop the narrow aisles of a pharmacy or supermarket, you’re less likely to spread the virus. But making and wearing such a face covering in a way that doesn’t defeat the purpose can be tricky. Read on to learn how to keep yourself safe if you do make and wear a DIY mask. BONUS: What The Science Says About Infection Via ‘Droplets’ Vs. ‘Aerosol’    Newsletter continues after sponsor message Sarah Mirk for NPR COMIC: Pleas And Pride At The Checkout Counter  The people who clean and stock our grocery shelves -- or pack our home deliveries or ring up the orders of hundreds of customers each week -- risk their own health to keep everyone who is hunkered at home well-provisioned. So why, some workers are asking, aren’t they better paid and better protected from the spreading coronavirus? Visual journalist Sarah Mirk checked in with a sampling of grocery workers across the U.S. to hear how things are going. Read on to learn how everyday shoppers can help ease the strain. BONUS: Weighing The Evidence That Changing What You Eat Might Boost Your Mood   Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images FDA WARNING: Beware Of Any ‘At-Home Testing Kit’ For Coronavirus Careful, folks -- the scammers are out in full force these days, preying on the desperate hopes of people anxious for a coronavirus test or cure. Don’t fall for it. Here's the truth: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any method of testing yourself at home for COVID-19. Read on to learn about a company that falsely claimed otherwise, and how the FDA and Congress are cracking down. BONUS: The ‘Whack-A-Mole’ Aspect Of The Pandemic, And How To Beat It   More of this week's health stories from NPR How To Get The Health Insurance You Need Now OPINION: Lessons The U.S. Learned In Shutting Down TB That Could Work Against COVID-19 MAP: Tracking The Coronavirus’ Spread, State By State   We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Stay safe and be well. Your Shots editor, Deborah Franklin   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy