Calgary company hired to manufacture 40 million medical masks

CALGARY – The Alberta government has contracted a Calgary company to provide more than 40 million medical masks over the next two years.

Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the $60-million agreement between Alberta Health Services and Orpyx Medical Technologies will ensure the province has sufficient personal protective equipment for its medical staff.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers in Alberta used about 33,000 masks a day, but that number has skyrocketed to 600,000.

Shandro reports that the 40 million masks will account for about 10 per cent of what the province needs.