WEB EXCLUSIVE The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s requirement that everyone wear face coverings as of April 22 in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus has people making their own protective masks to comply with the city order.

Students with sewing experience are using their shelter in place time at home to make face masks for their friends and family.

“I enjoy making them because I already know how to sew and they are easy to make” senior Alisha Kalra said. “I used materials such as cotton white fabric and shoelaces I found at home.”

Convent & Stuart Hall President Ann Krejcarek is making masks for nursing homes, hospitals and other places with high-risk populations, using leftover bandanas from past Sophomore Class Costa Rica trips and making use of materials she had on hand.

“My motivation came for the news that masks were in short supply for the health workers and any hospital-grade masks should be donated to them and not used by everyday citizens,” Krejcarek said. “I do it because there is a need and I want to help, so finding the time is important to me.”

Using a sewing machine is not necessary for making face coverings. 

“My mom recently made masks for my brother and me,” sophomore Kelly Cronan said. “She folded fabric in five layers and then she put rubber bands over the fabric and then sewed it with a needle and thread.”

Although the San Francisco Department of Public Health website does not show how to make a mask, the internet has multiple sites with step-by-step instructions for those who know how to sew and those who do not, as does YouTube.