IT’S A COVER UP

Marion McMullen looks at how face masks have become outdoor accessories worldwide

1 ALTHOUGH not officially recommended in Wales by the Welsh Government, facemasks have become a familiar sight elsewhere in the world. Experts have suggested that around nine in 10 people need to wear masks for them to be an effective tool in reducing infection. Scarves, cotton home-made coverings that cover nose and mouth and other bought masks that are not ones used by the health service are all fine for use.

2 WUHAN in China saw the first Covid-19 cases, but now the region’s famous acrobatic troupe is back in action with performers wearing face masks. The Wuhan acrobatic troupe is known throughout China and has performed abroad more than 80 times, but are staying close to home and covering up for performances.

3 SOMETHING old, something new! Janine Miodunski and Philip Scholz wore face masks when they tied the knot at a ceremony at the Autokino Dusseldorf drive-in cinema in Germany which now registers marriages on a stage, allowing relatives and friends to attend in cars. Guests honked their horns as the couple exchanged vows but the face masks made kissing the bride a little awkward.

4 ROBOTS in South Korea are checking employees at SK Telecom are wearing masks, monitoring staff temperatures and handling disinfection. Those not wearing masks are asked to do so by the robot if there are too many people around.

The company said the robots should lessen the workload of people on monitoring duties amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

5 PIXIE LOTT, inset, Kate Hudson and Selena Gomez are among celebrities seen wearing masks in public. Gwyneth Paltrow, who appeared in the film Contagion, has also been sporting a mask. Supermodel Naomi Campbell took things a stage further wearing a full hazmat suit, goggles and mask for a flight from LA to New York in March.

6 DESIGNER Marine Serre unveiled a range of outfits with matching face masks at Paris Fashion Week and Sportswear company Adidas has released a reusable mask called Face Cover with part of the price being donated to the Save The Children’s Global Coronavirus Response Fund. Celebrities have been modelling cotton masks with portraits of famous people designed by Ron Arad to raise money for the NHS.

7 TRANSPARENT face masks could prevent “months of misery” for deaf people, say nine charities, led by the National Deaf Children’s Society. They say more than nine million people live with some kind of hearing loss in the

UK, with the majority using lip-reading and facial expressions to help them communicate.

8 SINGAPORE is issuing free disposable masks through 400 vending machines, and around 100,000 masks and bandanas were handed out in New York as face coverings become mandatory in many places. Vending machines selling masks, hydroalcoholic solutions and gloves have been installed in parts of France and a food dispenser at El Dorado airport in Colombia now dispenses masks and anti-bacterial gel.

9 HEAD outdoors in a mask decorated with your favourite Coronation Street character or TV star, courtesy of redbubble. com/people/gregs-celebart/shop, the range includes an Exotic Tiger and Carry On film specials. Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistol and Queen masks are also now available, with some being sold in aid of health charities. 10

MANY statues around the world have been given their own face masks. The monument to German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in Bonn was given ‘protection’ in April while the face of a lion sculpture in Chicago was draped with city flag. A mask was also projected onto Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue.