As of July 7, 2020, City of Toronto By-Law 541-2020 mandated wearing a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces.  I'll focus this week on masks and share some videos and provide some Q+A's about masks.

The mask or face covering should cover your nose, mouth and chin, without gaping. Wearing a mask or face covering is an additional measure we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep each other safe. This means that, with some exceptions, all customers or visitors entering an indoor premise are required to wear a mask or face covering while inside. This new by-law includes our clinic's office building. If you are coming to the clinic please remember to bring a face covering.

Masks alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. We must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing.

Below are a few videos on how to wear a medical mask and a cloth mask properly.

CANADA - Non-medical Mask
CDC - Cloth Face Coverings
WHO - Medical Mask
WHO - Fabric Mask
City of Toronto

MORE ON MASKS BELOW

What is happening with COVID in Canada today?
Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer of Canada, told a media briefing in Ottawa today that "the current patterns of COVID-19 infections show limited to no transmission in most areas of the country.” "The situation is stabilizing in Canada today because Canadians did their part and followed public health instructions…"

Dr. Njoo pointed out that most of the recent outbreaks have been localized. These outbreaks have led to Canada's Rt number — representing the average number of people infected by each individual case — rising above 1 after staying below 1 for most of the last 10 weeks. An Rt above 1 suggests the spread of the disease is growing.

Dr. Njoo said that "with cases low in number, the daily Rt is likely to fluctuate dramatically. It remains important for us to closely monitor for new cases and outbreaks that could arise in any part of the country, even in places which might have few or no cases at the moment.” “Things can change quickly”.

As we embrace the use of masks I am struck by the controversy that mask wearing is stirring. In Southeast Asia it has been a long accepted behaviour and is a sign of consideration. In North America the uptake is variable.

This interesting article looks at the Psychology of why some people wear masks and why others don’t.

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Disposing of Paper Masks
Single-use disposable masks should be thrown into a closed garbage immediately after use and the wearer should wash their hands right after. Appropriate disposal of masks prevents increased risk of viral transmission.

Storage of Reusable Masks
Reusable masks are best stored in a clean paper bag to wash later. Masks can be put directly in the washing machine, using the hot cycle, and then dried thoroughly afterwards. Masks can also be washed by hand in the sink.Wear gloves while washing the covering with hot water and soap.

Mask Construction
Homemade masks should be of 2 layers of tightly woven material, such as cotton or linen (with the highest thread count), and include a filter. This type of mask is most effective at preventing the spread of the virus. Masks made of fabrics with a higher thread count will also filter out more microorganisms than one with a lower thread count.

The mask should also be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping.

Filters can be made out of paper towel or a coffee filter and put inside a sewn-in pocket on the mask, according to PHAC, which offers a step-by-step guide on how to make a mask

In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidance on the proper use of face masks and advised that knitted cotton, such as that found in a T-shirt, or polypropylene are better than nylon and looser-fitting cotton, such as that found in a handkerchief.

Stay well, stay safe, be attentive to personal hygiene, physical distancing, and please wear a mask.

- V

Traveling Air Particles
See this interesting video make by German physicists who looked at the distance air particles travel under different circumstances, including when wearing a mask.
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Controversy About Droplet Contact
239 scientists from 32 countries have written to the WHO expressing concerns about smaller droplet spread of COVID.

Canadian scientists and health leaders have taken a different position. They maintain that COVID is spread mostly by larger droplets which if inhaled are deposited in the back of the throat or the upper part of the lung. The virus also requires more moisture and closer contact with people than other well known viruses like measles. Although airborne transmission does exist, (perhaps 5% of the time) 95% of the time it’s the larger droplets.
READ MORE

Home Made Masks
How To Make Face Mask that Doesn't Touch Your Nose And Mouth
WATCH NOW
 

• COVID-19 self-assessment
• Ontario Ministry of Health - Talking to Children About the Pandemic
• CAMH - Talking to children about COVID-19 and its impact
• Ontario's COVID-19 Website
• Public Health Ontario - COVID-19
• Toronto Region COVID-19 Assessment Centres