While vaccines are the most effective method to prevent the spread of COVID-19, masks, social distancing, and self-isolation measures continue to be necessary to protect New Mexicans.
Download and view the pdf below for more information and guidance.
For more guidance, check out the CDC website.
Check out the CDC website for more guidance.
CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of Omicron. As of December 20, 2021, Omicron has been detected in most states and territories and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.
CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.
For more guidance on the Omicron variant and how to defend against it, check the CDC website.
Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.
Check the CDC website for more guidance on mask wearing.
Visit the CDC website.
Wear a mask correctly and consistently for the best protection. Be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on a mask and do not touch the mask when wearing it. If you have to often touch/adjust your mask, it doesn’t fit you properly, and you may need to find a different mask or make adjustments.
CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Effective February 2, 2021, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
For more specific guidance on how to select masks and how to wear them, check out the CDC guidelines.
There are many types of masks you can use to protect yourself and others from getting and spreading COVID-19. Cloth masks can be made from a variety of fabrics, and many types of cloth masks are available. Do not wear cloth masks with exhalation valves or vents, single layer or masks made of thin fabric that don’t block light. Disposable face masks are widely available. Do not wear disposable masks with gaps around the sides of the face or nose, or if wet or dirty.
For more information on various types of masks, and how and when to wear them, check out the CDC guidelines.
When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has. Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask. Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.
For specific directions to make your mask better, check out the CDC guidelines.
An anonymous donor has generously provided funding to support distribution of cloth face masks to people who need them. Please fill out the form, requesting which style mask you would like. We will contact you on how to pick up your mask. One mask per request form please.
