U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., took to the air waves Friday to urge people to wear homemade masks during their interactions with others.

“It's safer for the people around us if we cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze because you release droplets that might have the virus,” Toomey said on WILK, a news radio station covering northeastern Pennsylvania.

“When you talk and breathe we are releasing small droplets and that can be a very major source of transmission so I'm simply suggesting that we adopt the norms that frankly have been very pervasive and successful in other countries of just wearing even a homemade mask.”

During the show, Toomey said he had spoken with Jay Butler, the deputy director for infectious diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And during their conversation, according to Toomey, Butler agreed that homemade masks, even bandanas, were better than no protection at all.

The CDC does not recommend that the public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, the agency said.