Seamstress fighting COVID-19 with cotton masks

A Corporate Area seamstress, Patsy Beale, has been helping to curb the local spread of the deadly COVID-19 by designing reusable masks made from soft cotton material.

"It is not a moneymaking thing ... so this is just my way of helping out. The cost for the material is not expensive. My aim is just to protect myself and help to protect as many persons as I can," she said.

Beale, who first began making the masks shortly after the first case of coronavirus was reported in Jamaica, said that she has been receiving numerous calls and messages from interested buyers.

"The masks that I make are reusable and washable. They are made of soft cotton so they can be washed in warm water and whatever else a person decides to use, and it can also be ironed out to further get rid of bacteria," she said.

World Health Organization officials on Monday said they still recommended that people not wear face masks unless they are infected or are caring for someone who is sick.

A MEANS TO PREVENTION

However, Beale said that she firmly believes in wearing the mask as a means to prevent yourself from catching the virus.

"Why not wear it before you contract the disease? It works both ways. I am advising persons to wear the masks when they are going in public because they don't know when a person is going to cough or sneeze," she said.

"A person don't even have to cough or sneeze on you, but you can be in a space where someone does. The truth is that we are not staying three feet from each other. We go to places like the wholesales and other places where we form lines and so on, and what is going to happen if someone who has the virus cough? You may just catch something," she added.