State health officials are not requiring but are recommending citizens cover their nose and mouth while in public to act as a barrier against COVID-19 infection.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made the announcement as a way to lessen the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
As previously reported in the Albuquerque Journal, the governor directed residents to leave the snug-fitting N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are working with COVID-19 infected patients in hospitals.
“Wearing a face covering is no guarantee, but it can help, and you are encouraged to do so,” the governor tweeted
There are reportedly only 44,000 N95 face masks in the state, which are reserved to protect medical workers from coronavirus, according to the Associated Press.
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