Health officials and the CDC have recommended wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. You will be asked to sanitize your hands as soon as you enter the office for your scheduled appointment. If you are wearing gloves at this time we ask that you remove them and dispose of them properly. A mask that you wear outside could potentially be covered in virus, and it’s essential that when you take it off, you put it somewhere safe and out of the way (if it is a cloth mask). Please use caution when removing your mask and follow the guidelines on proper removal being careful not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing your mask and washing your hands immediately after removing.