Face masks must be part of our “new normal” if we’re going to control the coronavirus in America. That’s the directive of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).The association issued its guidelines in a statement Wednesday saying that scientific research supports the use of masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

According to The Boston Globe, Dr. Atul Grover, executive director of the AAMC Research and Action Institute, said: “Until we develop a vaccine and better therapeutics, prevention is the key to reducing the impact of this pandemic. The quicker we make face coverings our ‘new normal,’ the faster we gain control over COVID-19.”

The association recommends that everyone two years of age and older wear face coverings while indoors, especially when they are around people who don’t live in their household. It’s especially important to wear a face mask on an elevator, in a bus, train, or plane, or in restaurants.

“All businesses open to the public, no matter how limited, should insist that all customers wear masks while indoors,” said the statement. Surprisingly, the AAMC suggested that we all wear face covering outdoors when we can expect to be around others, “even when briefly passing by others such as running or walking by someone on a sidewalk.”

According to AARP, 34 states now mandate the use of face coverings in public.

For more do’s and don’ts regarding the wearing of masks, visit the AAMC guidance on face coverings.