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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Cloth Face Masks at Residential and Healthcare Facilities

Facilities, such as those for long-term care and dialysis, should encourage residents, patients, and staff to use cloth face mask to limit disease transmission when personal protective equipment is not required.

Under “Project: America Strong”, cloth face masks are being distributed to a number of residential and healthcare facilities across the country.  Wearing a cloth face mask  helps slow the spread of COVID-19, protecting both at-risk patients and the staff and clinicians who help care for them.


Healthcare worker wearing a mask

​Distribute face mask to residents and staff

Wearing a cloth face mask, coupled with important safety measures recommended by the CDC, can help limit the spread of the virus to staff, patients or residents in a facility.

Staff and patients can use cloth face masks when PPE is not required, such as commuting to and from the facility.

When possible, residents should wear a cloth face mask or face mask when they leave their rooms in addition to performing hand hygiene, limiting their movement in the facility, and maintaining physical distance (stay at least 6 feet away from others).

people staying 6 feet apart

Educate residents about actions they can take to protect themselves in the facility

Emphasize the importance of social distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and wearing a cloth face covering.




  • This page last reviewed: August 05, 2020