Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

COVID-19

Dr. Henry endorses wearing of cloth masks as an added measure to prevent COVID-19 spread

May 21, 2020 | 4:42 PM

VICTORIA — B.C.’s top doctor says cloth, non-medical masks can be an important “extra layer” of protection against the spread of COVID-19.

The effectiveness of cloth masks has been debated by health officials in Canada, including Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam.

During her daily address Thursday, B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said maintaining a safe distance between people is the best way to prevent the spread — but masks can be helpful when that is not possible.

“Some of the settings where it might be a really important additional layer is on settings like public transit where you may not be able to always maintain that distance,” said Henry, “or in small retail stores, for example, where barriers or other measures that are more effective may not be always in place.”

Some retailers are requiring customers to wear masks inside. Henry said it is a matter of personal choice, but they can be a positive layer.

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“It can play an important role in some of those situations, particularly in enclosed or crowded settings where you might be indoors,” she said.

There are some with conditions that prevent them from wearing masks, and Henry says British Columbians should be sensitive to this fact.

“I think what we need to realize is that not everybody can safely wear a mask,” she said. “We need to be respectful of that as well. But it is a way for us to keep our droplets in to be respectful of others, and transit is a place where you cannot always maintain that distance.”

“I do think it is going to be a part of our future for a while,” Henry added. “How that evolves culturally for the long term, we’ll wait and see.”