It’s a question many Canadians have asked since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and one that health officials faced again several times during a news conference Thursday. But the issues of coverage and mask mandates come at a time when Canada is dealing with the spread of not only COVID-19, but also other respiratory diseases, such as RSV and influenza.
Read more: Top doctor at Ottawa children’s hospital urges people to wear masks amid virus outbreak
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Top doctor at Ottawa children’s hospital urges people to wear masks amid virus outbreak
For Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s head of public health, the answer is simple: “From our perspective, of course, as usual, we recommend the use of masks as a layer of protection.” Story continues below ad So should cover-up mandates return in light of the respiratory viruses circulating in Canada, which hospitals say they are feeling the effects of? “It’s up to the provincial authorities to decide what they could do in their own context, but we know it’s a level of protection that can reduce the risk,” Tam said. “It’s not perfect like all the other layers, but if it’s added to the other layers of protection, including vaccination, then it can make a difference in terms of dampening the tide so hospitals can cope a little bit better.”
Read more: We don’t plan to re-impose mask mandate, says Toronto’s top doctor
Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief of public health, held a press conference Thursday, their first in weeks, as Canada’s health care system faces a wave of illnesses from COVID-19, RSV and influenza. The three viruses, combined with a series of drug and staff shortages, have led hospitals to sound the alarm for increased pressures in the coming months. On Wednesday, Ottawa-based CHEO Children’s Hospital opened a second intensive care unit to treat what it called an unprecedented number of critically ill babies and toddlers. COVID-19 restrictions, such as mandatory indoor mask use and physical distancing, are virtually non-existent in Canada. over the past year, as levels of COVID-19 have declined, governments have lifted their mandates and changed their messaging to encourage people to keep up with protective measures. Story continues below ad 1:14 Could mask mandates return to schools? Officials have flirted with the idea in recent weeks of rolling back some of those orders. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Oct. 17 that the update on the COVID-19 vaccination and the flu shot reduces the “risk” that other health measures will be needed this winter. On Oct. 13, Ontario’s top doctor urged people to get vaccinated and vaccinated and wear a mask to prevent an uncontrollable surge in hospital admissions. He said public health measures such as mandatory masks could return “if needed”. Current trend
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Institutions, meanwhile, establish their own policies. On Wednesday, the University of Waterloo reinstated the mask for classes, saying it made the move to avoid a possible disruption to the exam period. In recent months, many experts who spoke to Global News said that wearing a mask will remain an important layer of protection when it comes to COVID-19 this fall and winter. Story continues below ad
Read more: Ontario doctors advise masks, vaccines ahead of expected tough virus season
Dr. Susie Hota, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network in Toronto, told Global News on Sept. 27 that governments should look not only at everyday infections, but also at the impact the virus is having on its already “vulnerable” Canada. health care system in the event of reintroduction of orders. “I see them as less of a limitation in many ways because the tools we can use, like coverage, are not as limiting,” he said. “It’s not like a lockdown where we tell people you can’t come here, you can’t have more than five people in your house or in your circle. We’ll talk about things like the mask and to be honest, of all the things we could impose, it’s less restrictive than a lot of other options.” Experts have been encouraging Canadians for months to stay up-to-date on vaccination and implement protective measures learned throughout the pandemic to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. The flu, which has been spreading at extremely low levels for two years, is making a comeback this fall. 2:01 No mandate means fewer people to cover during BC flu season Tam and Njoo urged Canadians to adopt a “vaccine plus” approach Thursday, including measures such as practicing good hand hygiene and staying home when sick. Story continues below ad “We are in control of our destiny… if people are informed about the COVID-19 vaccination, get the flu shot and consistently use all the good personal protection measures… then I think we may have a less severe season than ,what if people really let it go and don’t take it seriously and don’t have their vaccination up to date and so on and so forth,” Njoo said. “It’s not like it’s going to be so bad just because we’re going to say, ‘This is it.’ We can check this. It’s up to everyone to do their part.” — with files from The Canadian Press © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
