Do not use a medical (surgical) mask, such as an N95 – rather, make those available to frontline healthcare workers. If you have any, consider donating them to your local hospital, or other healthcare service.
At a minimum, use a non-medical (cloth) mask when you attend any public or private indoor place, like a grocery store, office, pharmacy or retail store, if there is any risk that you may be unable to maintain a minimum distance of six feet from any other person, including through no fault of your own and despite your best efforts.
Many health officials in Ontario and federally are now recommending we wear a non-medical mask anytime we visit an indoor space, like a business or public facility, even if there is no risk to maintaining physical distancing.
Wearing a non-medical mask is not legally required in Ontario, but that is likely to change very soon, at least for when we attend indoor private and public places.
Remember that non-medical masks do you protect you from contracting the virus from another; rather, they minimize the opportunity for you to transmit it to another person, particularly if you are asymptomatic.
Do not share your non-medical mask with anyone else, like family members.
Contact your local health unit to obtain advice and instructions on how to prepare your own non-medical mask – there are video tutorials available, including on YouTube and other sources, but check with your health unit for the best source.
If you live in the CKL, here is a link about using your non-medical mask by our health unit: https://www.hkpr.on.ca/2020/04/20/covid-19-and-mask-use/
Follow the best practices published by your local health unit for using a non-medical mask, including cleaning methods.
