The city of New Orleans has been insisting its residents do this for several weeks, and today, the state backs that up -- it wants everyone in masks when they're out running essential errands, or if they're essential workers who deal with the public.
While Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the stay-at-home order through May 15, he says there is leeway under that order for some non-essential businesses to open.
"Let me be clear – many businesses in Louisiana are allowed to open and operate as long as their employees wear face masks or coverings, limit the number of people on premises as outlined in the order and enforce social distancing," said Edwards. Revisions to the extended stay-at-home order say all employees of businesses who have contact with the public must wear masks.
And some businesses are going so far as to refuse service to customers if they are not wearing masks. For example, most Costco stores nationwide will insist on customers wearing masks starting this Monday.
Ordinary cloth masks won't filter as much as an N-95 respirator, but New Orleans Health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno says if you have a mask on, and the person you're talking to does, too, "it's almost really no way that we can effectively transmit the virus back and forth."
Dr. Avegno says the more people wearing masks, the better to blunt transmission of the coronavirus.
"So if one of us is wearing it, there's some protection for each of us, but if both of us are wearing it, it's a whole lot harder," she said.
Dr. Avegno says people do need to remember the mask must cover both their nose and mouth, otherwise, they're not doing themselves any good.
"I see that a lot," Dr. Avegno said. "I instinctively want to pull it up by I know I can't. It really has to cover both your mouth and your nose in order to be effective."
Some people have been sewing their own reusable cloth masks, and masks are available for sale or even as a donation, if eligible, from Sew Dat NOLA. And Dr. Avegno says any breathe-through covering is better than nothing.
"There's always degrees," she explained. "I've seen a lot of people do that. I've seen people use bandannas, I've seen people use scarves."