Masks Now Required at All Times in Natrol Facilities During COVID-19 Pandemic

First, Natrol wishes everyone stay healthy in these difficult and unprecedented times, and that you take the maximum protections to keep your family and loved ones safe.

The COVID-19 worldwide situation is going to be with us for a long time, so we need to understand the implications, and make preventative behavioral changes now to protect ourselves.

In the short term, it will change the way we interact in public, socially with friends, at school, religious and other large gatherings in close proximity, how we travel, and at work. Because there is no vaccine and no specific proven treatments or cure, it is very important to limit the spread by practicing the following:

• Extreme hygiene, washing hands frequently, disinfecting objects touched frequently, not touching the face/nose/eyes with unwashed hands
• Social distancing of at least 6 feet/2 meters in most situation, and 12 feet/4 meters when exercising with others nearby
• Staying in shelter as much as possible, in order to not spread COVID-19 if you have it, or not get it from others who do not show symptoms but can spread it
• Wear a mask or other face covering when outside the house or with others!

Therefore, in addition to the first three practices, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, Natrol has issued masks to all employees. All employees are now required to wear masks at all times when in our facilities.

There is ample evidence globally from population-dense nations like Taiwan (18^th most dense, 24 million population) and South Korea (23^rd most dense, 51 million)* where mouth covering has long been a social practice, that it successfully helps slow the spread the contagions. Does it work?

Yes. In this chart showing confirmed COVID-19 cases, Taiwan and South Korea curves are nearly flat, while the worst affected countries in the world are USA, Italy and Spain with much higher COVID-19 spread rates. It is important to note that S Korea and Taiwan did not shut down their economies to achieve success!

Source: Bing COVID-19 tracker

Why cover your mouth and nose?
Health officials tell us that many people who have COVID-19 do not show symptoms, but do spread it to others through droplets from breath, while speaking or sneezing/coughing which others can inhale. They can also deposit virus onto surfaces, where the virus remains active, and if others touch those surfaces and then their face, they too can become infected. Therefore, a face covering helps reduce the spread.

Look for reliable news sources
Wherever you get your news, please keep yourself and your family properly informed by reviewing the latest reliable sources from trained experts. Be sure to follow what health officials and scientists are telling us, which admittedly is changing as they learn more about this novel virus every day.

What the experts are telling us now is to wear a mask (or other mouth and nose cover if masks are not available) when in public. This will help protect yourself and others since you could have COVID-19 without showing symptoms, but you are spreading infected droplets to others through your breathing, coughing and sneezing.

The fact is, COVID-19 will not disappear without individual behavioral changes. The best way to reduce the spread is for everyone to follow the best practices available.

We urge everyone to stay informed and do your part by wearing a mask or mouth covering in public, being mindful of social distancing, staying home whenever possible, and practicing extreme hygiene. Remember, anything you come in contact with outside your home may be contaminated. So if you have to go outside, wear gloves (any type of glove is a barrier and may help), wipe high touch surfaces with a disinfectant such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes or spray—even rubbing alcohol—and then wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.

At Natrol LLC are working 24/7 to deliver high quality products to our customers around the world. And now our products are available for purchase on Natrol.com which are delivered directly to your home in the USA, as we “shelter in place.”

These are unprecedented times and extreme precautions are fully justified to keep you and your family safe!

*Index Mundi, 04/01/2020