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Tracking the number of people in Canada receiving doses

Brooklyn Newstadt CTVNews.ca writer

TORONTO-The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) now recommends that people who are at higher risk of exposure and more severe disease consequences due to COVID-19 wear medical masks.

The guidelines were quietly updated on November 12, suggesting that these people "may also consider using respirators" in some cases.

PHAC now recommends that the following people wear medical masks:

Previous guidelines recommended that Canadians at higher risk of exposure and serious illness “wear a well-fitting, well-structured non-medical mask that includes a filter layer” or “consider wearing a well-fitting medical mask if you have one”.

CTVNews.ca has contacted PHAC for comments, but did not receive a response before publishing.

Studies have shown that if worn properly, masks can help contain respiratory particles and prevent or reduce the number of infectious respiratory particles a person inhales.

PHAC recommends that Canadians continue to take all public health measures recommended by local public health authorities, including personal measures such as wearing masks.

PHAC states in its online mask guide: “When combined with other recommended public health measures, a well-structured, well-fitting, and properly worn mask can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The Chief Public Health Officer of Canada made this change after advising Canadians to choose the best quality and fit masks at a press conference earlier on Friday.

"Just as vaccination provides us with the basic foundation of immune preparation protection, masks are an important top layer to prevent virus inhalation and human-to-human transmission," said Dr. Teresa Tan.

"Entering winter, there are many reasons to ensure that our top or outer barrier protection layer is of the best quality and fit. As the highly contagious Delta variant continues to dominate, the risk of surge and disease activity may increase. Spend more time indoors and increase, especially in places where vaccine coverage is low."

As new COVID-19 cases continue to increase in most parts of the country, Tan warned that there will be a slight "turbulence." She said that although serious illnesses remain stable, infections need to be controlled to prevent an increase, and other protective measures, such as proper hand hygiene and avoiding crowds, must be taken.

Although the effectiveness of medical and fabric masks vary, Dr Ronald St. John, the former director general of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Center of the Public Health Agency of Canada, told CTV News on Friday that it is important that any mask must fit on the face without Any gaps.

"Make sure that the small metal band is pressed around your nose, it is tucked under your chin, including covering your facial hair, etc. This will be the main deterrent of transmission," he said.

File from Michael Lee of CTVNews.ca

On Sunday, May 16, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Canada and around the world, a woman wearing a mask walks past the signs of a COVID-19 vaccination site in Montreal. Canadian Media/Graham Hughes

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