Question Period Note: MASK-WEARING

What is the Government of Canada’s position on mask-wearing?

• As we see rising numbers of cases in Canada, non-medical masks or face coverings are an increasingly important tool to help limit transmission of the virus.

• The Public Health Agency of Canada has recently updated its advice on non-medical masks to recommend the inclusion of a middle filter layer, as well as further detail on their safe and appropriate use.

• The Government of Canada recommends Canadians wear a non-medical mask or face covering, to protect themselves and others, whenever they are:
o in a shared space with people from outside of their immediate household – both indoors, or outdoors where physical distancing is difficult to maintain or unpredictable; and
o whenever recommended by their local public health authority.

• That said, wearing a non-medical mask or face covering alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• We must also avoid high risk settings such as closed spaces, crowded places, close interactions, and maintain strong and effective public health practices:
o stay home and away from others if you have symptoms;
o stay at home as much as possible if you are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes;
o maintain physical distancing from people outside of your immediate household;
o practice good hygiene such as frequent hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, and environmental cleaning; and
o reduce personal non-essential travel.

In Canada, and around the world, researchers are actively investigating all aspects of the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19. Though our knowledge of COVID-19 is continually growing, it is incomplete, and we will keep learning more as the science continues to evolve. Canada’s public health advice will continue to be informed based on science that will ensure the health and safety of the Canadian population in the face of this unprecedented pandemic.

Guidance related to the use of non-medical masks or face coverings has evolved with emerging evidence that the virus can be transmitted by infected people before they develop symptoms of COVID-19 (pre-symptomatic transmission), and by people who never develop symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic transmission).

Current evidence supports the wearing of non-medical masks or face coverings in specific community situations and settings as part of a comprehensive layered approach to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Studies suggest that community-wide wearing of well constructed and well fitting non-medical masks or face coverings, when worn properly, may contribute to the control of COVID-19 by preventing the respiratory droplets/particles produced by infected individuals, including those who may be pre- or asymptomatic, from coming into contact with healthy individuals. In addition, emerging evidence supports that non-medical masks or face coverings also provide some protection to the wearer from the infectious respiratory droplets/particles of others.

On November 10, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted information to this effect on their website. PHAC had updated its web content on the use of non-medical masks or face coverings by the public on November 3. The updated content includes additional information on how to properly use a non-medical mask or face covering, in addition to more specifics on recommended construction, materials and filters.

On December 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance for Mask Use in the Context of COVID-19. This guidance includes new scientific evidence on how to safely use and care for masks, recommendations for mask use by the general public, mask use during intense physical activity, as well as several other recommendations on the use of non-medical masks, medical masks, and transmission of COVID-19.

The degree of protection that non-medical masks provide would vary with the construction, number of layers, materials used, and most importantly, the fit of the mask and whether or not it is worn properly. To improve the level of protection that can be provided by non-medical masks or face coverings, we are now recommending that Canadians consider non-medical masks or face covering which include a middle, filter layer.

PHAC will not be advising people to throw away their 2-layer non-medical masks or face coverings. Rather, if Canadians are making or buying more non-medical masks or face coverings, they should consider ones which include a middle, filter layer.

SYNOPSIS
Evidence continues to emerge supporting the value of non-medical masks or face coverings in limiting the spread of COVID-19. On November 3, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) updated its advice for non-medical masks and face coverings to acknowledge their role in protecting the wearer and others, and recommending the inclusion of a middle filter layer to improve the level of protection provided. The update also provides additional information on their safe and appropriate use. On November 10, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) posted a Scientific Brief on Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS CoV-2 that provided similar information. On December 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance for Mask Use in the Context of COVID-19. PHAC advice is generally consistent with the WHO guidance. Scientific information on COVID-19 continues to emerge rapidly and PHAC continues to evaluate new evidence as it becomes available to inform our intervention and mitigation strategies.
IF PRESSED on 3-layer masks…

• Recommendations on the construction of non-medical masks or face coverings have been updated to recommend that non-medical masks or face coverings include a third filter layer or a disposable filter.

• Evidence supports that non-medical masks or face coverings which include 2 layers of tightly woven material fabric and a middle filter layer, offer additional protection to the wearer and to those around them.

• Two layer non-medical masks or face coverings still provide a level of protection and are preferred over wearing no mask at all.

IF PRESSED on rationale for changing guidance…

• PHAC continues to follow the emerging evidence supporting the use of non-medical masks and the materials used to construct them or face coverings and will update advice again as needed.

• In light of the resurgence of COVID-19 across Canada, as well as our move to indoor spaces during the colder months ahead, we must optimize all of our public health measures, including non-medical masks or face coverings.

• We have updated our guidance to provide advice on the construction and fit of masks, as well as inclusion of a filter layer for improved protection.

• PHAC is also continuously reviewing recommendations for mask wearing in specific settings for certain groups or individuals, based on the most recent evidence.