The SDLP wants health authorities in the North to consider advising the public to cover their faces when they're out and about.
The party says the Scottish government's "decisive intervention" on the use of masks will help prevent transmission where people slip up with social distancing.
In the Republic, chief medical officer Tony Holohan said the same measure's under consideration - but supplies of masks for healthcare workers need to be protected.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says encouraging voluntary use of cloth masks could help.
"I think we all know when you're outside it's easy to socially distance, but when you have to go to a shop, it's very very difficult in some shops to stay two metres apart from people.
"We need to know if that works - the Scottish government have said very clearly it's not mandatory, it has little effect when outside, but it's a good way of stopping spreading the disease, it doesn't stop you getting it but it stops you transmitting it."
