Got questions? We’ve got you covered

As health officials recommend wearing masks, here’s what you need to know,

Face masks: A seemingly simple piece of fabric that straps around your ears and over your nose (note: always above your nostrils, and never under!) is now as essential to your leaving-the-house checklist as keys, wallet and phone — if not more important since it helps limit the spread of COVID-19.

For anyone still getting the hang of this new pandemic wear, or caught wondering if they even need to wear a face mask (the short answer: yes, most likely, but more on that later), we’ve rounded up the answers to your questions.

Why wear a mask?

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends you wear a non-medical mask when in public to protect the people around you from COVID-19 transmission.

COVID-19 is spread by tiny “droplets” that people expel when they breathe, cough, or sneeze. A mask helps prevent those droplets from being expelled into the air.

This may be particularly important as we begin to understand the potential impact of “silent spreaders”: people infected by the virus who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, who may not know that they’re infected.

What kind should I use?

If you’re a health-care worker or front-line worker, you are likely wearing personal protective equipment, which may include medical-grade masks.

For people who aren’t frontline workers, Public Health Canada has recommended Neoprene masks, surgical masks, homemade cloth masks, face shields or even scarves or bandanas. Of course, masks are not 100 per cent effective in preventing exposure to the novel coronavirus.

When should I wear a mask?

A mask can help in situations where physical distancing may be more difficult, like shopping at the grocery store or taking the bus.

You don’t have to wear a mask when driving alone in a car or when you are outside for a walk, where you can practise physical distancing.

Can I wash and reuse my masks?

It depends on what type of mask you’re using. If you’re using a mask made of fabric or neoprene, then you can reuse these masks so long as you’re washing them after each use.

Surgical masks are one-time use.

Public Health Canada recommends changing your mask, whether it’s cloth or medical, when it gets damp, soiled or crumpled.

How do I safely remove my mask and clean it?

Before removing your mask, Public Health Canada recommends you wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap; if soap and water aren’t available to you, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Remove the mask from the back, without touching the front or your face.

If your mask is disposable, place it in a lined garbage bin immediately, then wash your hands again for 20 seconds.

If you’re cleaning a mask that’s reusable, then Public Health Canada recommends laundering your mask in hot water immediately after removal, then washing your hands again for 20 seconds.

If you’re on the go, or aren’t able to wash the mask right away, place it in a sealed plastic bag until you’re ready to clean it. Be sure to empty the mask into the washing machine by holding onto the plastic bag, and not reaching in to grab it.

Neoprene masks are a good option because they’re one layer, but they may not be accessible to all due to cost. It’s a single layer, but it’s a thick layer so it’s low porosity. For people less comfortable with wearing a mask, a scarf or bandana is a discreet and familiar option that can blend in with a person’s clothes. The more layers the better. A basic surgical mask does not offer the same kind of protection as an N95 mask, but these should still be reserved for health-care workers. For a homemade mask, the number of layers should also be considered. A flashlight can help — the more light that comes through, the more respiratory droplets could go through. Face shields may also be costly, but they can offer a better view, and allow for facial expressions. However, they leave gaps on the sides.