Canadians should wear masks as an 'added layer of protection,' says Tam
PM says his 'personal choice' to wear mask in public is aligned with health recommendations
Canada's chief public health officer says Canadians should wear a mask as an "added layer of protection" whenever physical distancing is not possible.
Dr. Theresa Tam provided the updated advice during her daily news conference in Ottawa today.
"For the spring and summer months, strict adherence to the public health basics of physical distancing, handwashing and cough etiquette must continue as the bare minimum," she said.
"In addition, where COVID-19 activityis occurring, use of non-medical masks or face coverings is recommended as an added layer of protection when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. And staying home when sick is a must, always and everywhere."
Watch: Chief Public Health Officer explains mask guideline
Tam said the new guidelinecomes as provinces begin to allow businesses and services to reopen, bringingmore people out of their homes.
Asked if the recommendation should have come earlier in the pandemic emergency, Tam saidpublic healthadvice has been evolving based on the science. That advice is also now responding to the fact that, with more provinces taking cautious steps toward reopening their economies, more Canadiansare coming into closer proximity to one another in public.
"We need to flexibly change our measures as we get more information," she said.
Tam said the advice coming from her officetoday is a "specific recommendation," while the previous language was "more permissive."
The position taken by Tam's officeat the start was that masks can protect others so if someone is showing symptoms and needs to go out, they need to cover their face. As officials learned moreabout asymptomatic and pre-symptomaticcarriers and their potential role intransmission, the advice on masks changed.
Asked if the federal government could issue a directive to make mask-wearing in publicmandatory, Tam said it remains a recommendation at thenational level but provinces and communities could make their own decisions based on local conditions.
She also warned that wearing a maskwon't protect an individualfrom infection on its own, and stressed that physical distancing remains fundamental.
PM to wear mask in public
Tam said measures to suppress the disease through the summer are essential to buy more time for research and innovation on medical therapies and vaccine development.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saidhe has started wearing a mask in public in situations where hecould be in closeproximity to people.
"That's my personal choice. I think that's what is aligned with what public health is recommending," he said. "I think we all need to adjust to what works in our circumstances and keep safety at the forefront of what we're doing."
Watch: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his decision to wear a mask in public
Trudeau said he will wear a maskto in-person sittings of Parliamentbut will remove his mask once at his desk to engage in parliamentary debate.
He was first seen wearing a mask in public during a May 6 Canadian Armed Forces repatriation ceremony.
Trudeau said again that the best measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 are to staytwo metres apart, to stay at home whenever possibleand to wash hands regularly and frequently.
Singh following health advice
NDP Leader JagmeetSingh will be wearing a mask outside of his home "in times when physical distancing is hard or not possible," says a statement fromhis office.
"From the beginning of this crisis, he had followed public health experts'advice and will continue to do so," saysthestatement.
Asked if Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is wearing a mask, a party spokesperson said:"A number of our MPs have made the personal decision to wear masks on the Hill. Conservative MPs will continue to follow public health guidelines."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has not formally recommended wearing masksand has said the evidence is inconclusive on whether people who are asymptomatic should wear them.
But many experts say masks should be mandatory because they canreduce the amount of airborne droplets that can carry the virus.
Several countries, including Spain, have made wearing masks compulsory in cases wherethe two-metre physical distancing rule can't be observed.
Today, Ontario's provincial government said passengers on public transitshould wearmasks.
Watch: Trudeau arrives on Parliament Hill wearing a mask
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