Are you wearing the right mask?
Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang explains the guidelines have changed again as Omicron cases roar through the region.
“Now we’re recommending as a minimum a three-layered cloth mask properly fitted and worn,” Strang says. “It’s the type of mask you should be looking to use in the general public.”
Canada’s mask guidance changed just before the new year.
The federal government is recommending you take a closer look at whether or not your cloth mask is keeping you safe.
“The effectiveness of non-medical masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19 can vary based on many factors. It depends on material, construction, fit and proper use,” says the Public Health Agency of Canada on its COVID-19 mask information webpage.
It says non-medical masks can help to prevent the spread of the virus if they have at least two layers of breathable tightly woven fabric (such as cotton) and have an effective middle filter layer.
Public Health’s guidance recommends a shift toward the use of medical masks and respirators over cloth ones.
“There are currently no standards for non-medical masks in Canada,” Public Health says. “Medical masks and respirators sold in Canada are required to meet established standards for filtration, breathability and fluid resistance.”
Meantime, Nova Scotia has now reached 40 hospitalizations related to COVID-19 with five patients in intensive care.
The province reported 1,020 new cases of the virus on Tuesday with more than 6,400 estimated active infections.
