Coronavirus: Justin Trudeau dons face mask as Canada urges public to do the same
- Prime minister says he puts on face covering in halls of parliament or when going to office, when he can’t keep two metres away from others
- Officials warn, however, that wearing masks should not become excuse to ignore other guidance to limit spread of Covid-19
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday he now wears a face mask in public when social distancing is not possible, as health authorities urged everyone in the country to do the same.
But officials emphasised that wearing masks should not become an excuse to ignore other guidance to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, including frequent handwashing and keeping two metres (six feet) from others.
“When it is possible for me to keep two meters distance from people, that is what I prefer to do,” Trudeau told a daily briefing.
But he added: “In situations where I’m either walking through the halls of parliament or going to my office and coming in proximity to people, I’ve chosen to start wearing a mask.”
Once at his seat in the House of Commons, where a skeletal crew of MPs have been meeting once a week over the past month, the prime minister said he removes the mask to “engage in parliamentary discourse”.