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Should you wear a mask to prevent COVID-19? What experts say

What’s happening

As the COVID-19 death toll rises and more cases are confirmed, Canadians are being urged to stay at home. For those not in isolation, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recommends going out only for essentials once a week. But how people protect themselves when leaving their homes has experts divided—especially when it comes to wearing masks.

Why there’s debate

Non-medical masks have been selling out in stores as Canadians scramble for ways to avoid contracting the virus in public. Some have even opted to make their own out of household supplies, like pocket squares and elastic bands. Experts disagree on whether all Canadians should gear up to go outside or to the grocery store.

“Wearing a mask can give a false sense of security and actually increase your risk of contracting the virus if not used and disposed of properly or not replaced frequently,” Dr. Bonita Bodani told Yahoo News Canada.

If used correctly, though, she said they can be helpful to “provide some protection of possible transmission to yourself” when going out in public for essentials. Countries around the globe including South Korea and Czech Republic have managed to help flatten the curve at a much faster rate, with less deadly consequences by enforcing that the public wear masks. However, the executive director of the World Health Organization emergencies program said even that has its risks.

“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly,” Dr. Mike Ryan said at a media briefing on March 30.

When wearing a non-medical mask, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam said “it should be well-fitted (no gaps) and you must practice good hygiene before, during and after wearing it,” in a Twitter post. “Non-medical masks alone will not prevent COVID-19 spread.”

Dr. Tam explained there is a difference between medical and non-medical masks. She urged the public not to buy the medical kind, which should be used by healthcare workers in patient care settings.

The Government of Canada also warned that homemade masks are not regulated and can be counterintuitive. Among the limitations listed online, they may “require frequent adjustment, increasing the amount of times your hands come into contact with your face and increasing the probability of infection.”

What’s next

The federal government asked manufacturers across the country to start producing more medical supplies, including surgical masks. The Government of Canada has established ties with Amazon to help supply more medical equipment and protective gear, while relying also on U.S.-based manufacturing company 3M to offer exports. The plan ran into obstacles when U.S. President Trump used the Federal Defence Act to force the company to keep mask shipments within the U.S. and block exports.

Meanwhile, Canadian designers, like Hilary MacMillan, decided to join the effort by sewing non-medical masks. Her first order is going to pharmacy staff with more orders being filled for organizations placing requests.

PHAC continues to provide timely information on best practices.

Perspectives

You should wear a mask:

It’s common sense.

“But medical authorities are dead wrong to say that masking doesn’t help. It absolutely helps: Covering up your filthy mouth hole to limit the spread of disease isn’t just common sense, it’s backed by good science.” — Journalist Tristin Hopper, National Post

They can provide protection.

“Anything that covers your nose and your mouth with a reasonable seal. You can fashion out of cloth, you can fashion even out of a vacuum bag. As long as it can stand a little bit of humidity, that’s very useful. If it’s something that’s reusable that’s cloth that can be washed, that’s also very reasonable.” — Infectious disease specialist Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, CTV National News

“Wearing a non-medical mask even if you have no symptoms is an additional measure that you can take to protect others around you, in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain such as in public transit or at the grocery store. A non-medical mask can reduce the chance of your respiratory droplets coming into contact with others or land on surfaces. Wearing a non-medical mask has not been proven to protect the person wearing it, it is an additional way in which you can protect others” — Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam

You don’t have to wear a mask, staying home is more effective:

Wearing masks is unnecessary for the general public.

“The critical shortage requires us (doctors) to use a single mask for multiple patients until it is contaminated or damaged. You do not need five of them to go for a walk. Many of our own stockpiles have grown legs and walked away.” — Transplant surgeon Dr. Joshua Weiner, New York Times