STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City essential workers are now mandated to wear face coverings when interacting with the public while on duty, officials announced Sunday.

“Starting tomorrow, Monday, I am requiring all city workers who come in contact with the public while on duty to wear face coverings,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio during a Sunday press conference. “This will be a requirement of their work.”

He added the city has already provided 1.4 million face coverings to city workers and will provide many more as necessary.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a separate Sunday press conference that he will sign an executive order directing employers to provide essential workers in New York State with cloth or surgical face masks to wear when interacting with the public.

Cuomo said on Twitter: “We will safeguard the public health by having those who interact with public wear appropriate face coverings.”

NEW: I am signing an Executive Order directing employers to provide essential workers with cloth or surgical face masks to wear when directly interacting with the public.



We will safeguard the public health by having those who interact with public wear appropriate face coverings — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 12, 2020

The announcement builds on previous guidance shared by the mayor last week when he advised all New Yorkers to wear face coverings in public to protect all residents. He thanked residents on Sunday who have followed through on that guidance.

“I want to say thank you again to all New Yorkers,” de Blasio said. “It’s been amazing. Wherever I’ve been around this city, I see so many people wearing face coverings and making their own -- they use bandanas, scarves, whatever they have. It’s been really impressive how many people took that guidance and ran with it immediately.”

Last week, de Blasio said all New Yorkers should wear a face covering whenever they leave their homes, whether it was a scarf, a bandana, or something created at home. He asked people not to use surgical masks or N95 masks so that they are available for the front line and health care workers that need them.

The decision to ask all New Yorkers to cover their faces comes as new evidence is showing that some asymptomatic people with COVID-19 are spreading the disease, he said.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reversed its guidelines earlier this month that recommended people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, like grocery stores and pharmacies, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

If you have a homemade mask, the CDC wants you to be sure to wear it and clean it properly.

According to the CDC, such mask should:

-- Be worn snugly along the sides of the face.

-- Is best if made with several layers of fabric.

-- Should be secured with ties or ear loops.

-- Should allow for breathing without restriction.

Masks should also be able to be laundered and machine-dried without damage or change of shape. A folded, clean paper towel or napkin can serve as a lining and additional layer. Routine machine washing is sufficient to properly clean a face covering, the CDC says.

While face masks have become increasingly hard to find, there are ways to make a suitable substitute using paper towels or a bandana, plus two hair ties or rubber bands.

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