À propos des masques non médicaux et des revêtements faciaux

May 19 2020

How to protect others

The best thing you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. If none is available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

To protect others, you must also:

stay at home
maintain a physical distance of 2 meters from others
- when physical distancing cannot be maintained, consider wearing a non-medical mask or homemade face mask
avoid touching your face, mouth, nose or eyes

Wearing a homemade face/non-medical mask in the community has not been proven to protect the wearer and is not a substitute for physical distancing and hand washing.

However, this may be an extra step taken to protect others around you, even if you don’t have any symptoms. This can be useful for short periods, when physical distancing is not possible in public places, such as when grocery shopping or using public transportation.

Proper Use of a Non-Medical Mask or Face Mask

When worn correctly, a person wearing a mask or non-medical mask can reduce the spread of their own infectious respiratory droplets.

Non-medical masks or facial coverings should :

allow easy breathing
fits securely to the head with ties or ear loops
retain its shape after washing and drying
be changed as soon as possible if it is wet or dirty
be comfortable and not require frequent adjustments
be made of at least 2 layers of tightly woven fabric (such as cotton or linen)
be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping

Some masks also include a pocket to accommodate a paper towel or disposable coffee filter, for added benefit.

Non-medical masks or coverings should not :

be shared with others
impair vision or interfere with tasks
be placed on children under 2 years old
be made of plastic or other non-breathable materials
be secured with tape or other inappropriate materials
be made exclusively of materials that disintegrate easily, such as fabrics
be placed on anyone unable to remove them without assistance or on anyone having difficulty breathing

Boundaries

Homemade masks are not medical devices and are not regulated like medical masks and respirators. Their use poses a certain number of limits:

they have not been tested according to recognized standards
the fabrics are not the same as those used in surgical masks or respirators
the edges are not designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth
they may not provide complete protection against virus-sized particles
they can be difficult to breathe and can prevent you from getting the amount of oxygen your body requires

These types of masks may not be effective in blocking virus particles that can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing or certain medical procedures. They do not provide complete protection against virus particles due to a potential loose fit and the materials used.

Medical masks, including surgical face masks and medical face masks and respirators (such as N95 masks), should be saved for healthcare workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html

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