Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief medical officer of health, speaks in Ottawa on April 5, 2020. Photo: CPAC
Wearing a non-medical face mask does not mean you can ease back on physical distancing.
That was the plea from Canada’s top doctor, Theresa Tam, a day after saying wearing the face coverings isn’t such a bad idea to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“Non-medical masks can be an additional layer to protect, and not infect, others even if you’re not currently symptomatic,” says Tam, “…this can help reduce the spread of respiratory droplets to others when cannot maintain a two-metre physical distance such as when you’re on public transit or getting groceries.”
The Chief Public Health Officer adds that masks aren’t for everyone.
“In particular, face coverings could present a suffocation risk to babies and children under the age of two, anyone who has difficulties breathing, and anyone unable to remove the masks themselves.”
The latest statistics show that there are currently over 17 thousand cases of COVID-19 in Canada, with over 346 thousand tests done.
