Cloth face mask
A cloth face mask is a mask made of common textiles, usually cotton, worn over the mouth and nose. When more effective masks are not available, and when physical distancing is impossible, cloth face masks are recommended by public health agencies for disease "source control" in epidemic situations to protect others from virus laden droplets in infected mask wearers' breath, coughs, and sneezes. Because they are less effective than N95 masks, surgical masks, or physical distancing in protecting the wearer against viruses, they are not considered to be personal protective equipment by public health agencies. They are used by the general public in household and community settings as protection against both infectious diseases and particulate air pollution.

Cloth face masks were routinely used by healthcare workers starting from the late 19th century until the mid 20th century. In the 1960s they fell out of use in the developed world in favor of modern surgical masks, but their use has persisted in developing countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their use in developed countries was revived due to shortages of surgical masks and respirators, as well as for environmental concerns and practicality.
Q161524
mask
Concept
Q28823
textile
Concept
Q11457
cotton
Concept
Q96406059
"source control"
Concept
Q44512
epidemic
Concept
Q17231052
N95 mask
Concept
Q10282403
surgical mask
Concept
Q30314010
physical distancing
Concept
Q1333024
personal protective equipment
Concept
Q498957
particulate
Concept
Q131123
air pollution
Concept
Q132453
developed world
Concept
Q177323
developing countries
Concept
Q81068910
COVID-19 pandemic
Concept
Q88429117
due to shortages
UNK
Q89480286
Cloth face mask
Concept
1960-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1960
DATE
+95^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
95
NUMBER
+19^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
19
NUMBER
+20^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
20
NUMBER
-19^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
-19
NUMBER
made from material