As new rules mandating the use of face masks come into force at midnight in Melbourne, Wagga locals are looking at securing some of their own.
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When Wagga's Anne Fewson posted on Facebook offering to take orders for hand-sewn reusable cloth marks, she was "shocked" to receive over 100 orders in just a few days.
"I did not expect for my phone to be going all night, I was quite blown away by that," Mrs Fewson said.
She said at the beginning of the pandemic she made about 200 masks for friends, family and local pre-school centres using a pattern based on masks sewn in the US to manage a shortage of personal protective equipment early in the pandemic.
Since coronavirus cases began to rise again she has resumed sewing, charging $10 for a mask.
Mrs Fewson said while some people were ordering masks on behalf of friends and family in Victoria, she had been surprised at the demand from locals and the wider Riverina community.
"i've just been swamped with orders, so there's definitely a need," she said.
"A lot of them, they just want to be prepared just in case."
NSW Health and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District is following health advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which recommends the general population should consider wearing a face mask in situations where it is difficult to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people.
The main value of a mask is to protect other people, but it can also provide some protection as long as the wearer remains diligent with other hygiene and social distancing measures.
NSW Health advises people to make sure their mask fits snugly and to wash or sanitise their hands before putting on or removing a mask. Wash and dry reusable masks thoroughly and do not reuse single-use masks.
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