Coronavirus: Canada’s medical chief finally tells public that masks can help prevent Covid-19 spreading
- Dr Theresa Tam now says non-medical masks can be used by the general public to reduce the risk of infecting others
- Previously reluctant to suggest masks for the general public, Tam says new evidence about asymptomatic transmission prompted the latest advice
Canada’s chief health officer has told the public they can help prevent the spread of Covid-19 by wearing face masks, even if they show no symptoms of the disease, in a departure from her previous reluctance to suggest masks for the general population.
Dr Theresa Tam said the new guidance applied only to “non-medical masks” and should be considered an “additional step” and not a substitute for physical distancing and hand washing. Medical masks needed to be reserved for health workers, she said.
As recently as March 30, Tam had said that “putting a mask on an asymptomatic person is not beneficial, obviously, if you’re not infected”.
But on Monday, Tam said new research about the risk of Covid-19 being spread by non-symptomatic and pre-symptomatic people had led to the updated advice.
“The special advisory committee on Covid-19 has come to a consensus that 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,” said Tam.