Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer set the record straight Wednesday by officially recommending the use of non-medical face masks, or facial coverings when physical distancing is not possible.
The past few months have seen Health Canada’s stand on non-medical mask-use go back and forth on its effectiveness.
Dr. Theresa Tam says for the spring and summer months, strict adherence to public health basics of physical distancing, hand-washing, and cough etiquette must continue as the bare minimum.
She says if Canadians can maintain these measures to the best of their ability, public health will get more lead time to be prepared for whatever the next few months may bring.
Tam says the federal government is posting updated federal, provincial, and territorial COVID-19 Special Advisory Committee recommendations.