President Trump told us of the CDC recommendation to wear a cloth face covering when in public to prevent the spread of coronavirus during his COVID-19 briefing Friday. But then he immediately undermined that message. The cited article starts like this:

President Trump on Friday announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending Americans wear facial coverings made of cloth while out in public to help stop the spread of coronavirus — though the president repeatedly called it “voluntary” and said he wouldn’t do it himself.

This new CDC recommendation does not negate previous guidance for social distancing. And specifically says that surgical masks and N-95 respirators are “critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.” This is why cloth face coverings are specified.