Canada’s most sensible public fitness doctor says wearing a mask along with other precautions may see hospitals deal with a buildup of respiratory viruses.
Some doctors, scientists and hospitals in Ontario and Manitoba have called for public fitness to reinstate mask mandates as hospitals are hit by cases of influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s leading public fitness officer, said wearing masks is a protective layer opposite to that of respiratory viruses.
“If you add to the other layers of protection, adding vaccination, it can make all the difference in terms of mitigating the outbreak so hospitals can cope a little better,” Tam said at a news conference Thursday.
WATCH | Why a doctor’s mask now demands:
RSV and influenza or flu have higher-than-seasonal levels, according to the Public Health Agency’s most recent FluWatch report.
Staff shortages and other problems are also putting pressure on hospitals, according to doctors. Some pediatric hospitals in particular are being hit hard because the demand for pain and fever relief drugs in young children outstrips demand.
It’s up to the provincial government to implement mask mandates in their own context, Tam said. But she and her counterparts across the country proposed layered mask coverage in crowded places, especially if they are poorly ventilated.
Other countries have already encouraged the use of masks by offering them for free, as some communities in Canada have done with COVID-19 immediate control kits.
When asked if Canada would provide loose masks, Tam said it was a vital consideration, but it depended on why other people weren’t dressed in masks right now.
“Part of that may also simply be the fatigue factor,” he said. “But possibly there would be a differential for the mask and that can also be anything that can also be looked at and seen if it makes a difference. “
Tamed said he had heard of some problem with the source of masks and respirators in Canada.
Last month, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government would attempt to ban COVID-19 mask mandates in schools.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease physician at Toronto General Hospital, said masks are a useful tool and called on people to make “great efforts” to get them used.
“Strong and meaningful communication,” he said Bogoch. No a news conference.
If masks were placed in places like schools, self-service, places of worship and networking centers, such as found at hospital entrances, then other people could make “smart choices” when entering enclosed places, he said.
“I think we can make a lot of other people mask themselves in the absence of court orders. “
Dr. Lindy Samson, leader and leader of CHEO in Ottawa, also asked others to wear masks indoors, noting that youth across the country wait until 3 p. m. to 8 p. m. to be noticed in an emergency department.
“We spent the first two and a half years doing everything I wanted to happen,” Samson said. “As hard as it is and as tired as we are, we all want to do it now so our young people can get the care they want when they want it. “
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the head of the World Health Organization said COVID-19 deaths had dropped by nearly 90% since February.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said just over 9400 coronavirus-related deaths were reported to the WHO last week, up from 75,000 worldwide months ago.
“We’ve come a long way and that’s cause for optimism. But we continue to call on all governments, communities and Americans to remain vigilant,” he told a virtual news conference from WHO headquarters in Geneva.
“About 10,000 deaths a week is 10,000 more for one that can be prevented and treated. “
Since surveillance and testing have declined worldwide, the flow of the virus is estimated, according to a WHO official. New variants also continue to circulate.
Journalist
Amina Zafar covers medical science and fitness, as well as COVID-19 and infectious diseases, for CBC News. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in journalism.
With Christine Birak of CBC and Associated Press
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