(CHAT News Today)

By Chantal Wagner

Dr. Hinshaw discusses federal non-medical cloth mask recommendation

Nov 5, 2020 | 10:18 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – If you are wearing a non-medical mask, Canada’s top doctor is recommending it should be three-ply with a filter in the middle.

Dr. Theresa Tam made the comments during her update on Tuesday, saying the science and research have evolved.

Alberta’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw talked more about the recommendation Wednesday afternoon.

She says the triple-layer recommendation is specifically for non-medical cloth masks as the additional layers increase protection.

“It’s important to remember that it’s not binary, it’s not zero protection and full protection. Additional layers add additional protection and again, current evidence would indicate that those three layers are important. However, I would encourage people if they haven’t had time to get a three-layer mask to continue wearing the two-layer while they get the three-layer.”

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Dr. Hinshaw notes many of the two-layer cloth masks also have a pocket to add an additional filter.

Meantime, Medicine Hat pharmacist Greg Bueckert with Greg’s Remedy’s RX explains that if you are using a three-layer medical mask, you’ll have a very high degree of protection.

He says medical masks provide about 95 percent protection.

Bueckert says these medical masks are readily available, and they have even come down in price compared to a few months ago.

“They’ll stop any type of airborne particle down to about three microns, very effective for not only protecting yourself but protecting other people from your coughs and sneezes. And then you go to the KN95 mask which they are not recommending but they do work a little bit better. But they don’t want to see a draw on the supply chain, they want those for medical people.”

Bueckert adds cloth masks do provide some protection, but they are generally loose along the sides of the face.