‘You have to be careful with masks’

Proper use key to avoid masks themselves becoming source of spread, medical officer of health warns

WATERLOO REGION — Wearing a mask is an option for people as COVID-19 restrictions begin to be eased in the province, but Waterloo Region’s top medical officer warns proper use is essential, otherwise masks can spread the virus.

“You have to be careful with masks,” acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang said during Monday’s regional briefing. “You have to be careful it does not lead you to increase the number of times you touch your face, such as to adjust or fiddle with your mask. You need to practise diligent handwashing, before and after manipulating the mask.”

Wang warned that if people don’t follow those rules, “then the masks can actually be a source of spread.”

Wearing a non-medical mask helps contain droplets that spread the virus, similar to coughing into a sleeve or tissue.

“It can help protect others. But it cannot be relied upon to protect you from COVID-19,” Wang said.

She stressed masks cannot replace measures put in place to contain the virus, and urges people to continue following those recommendations: avoid gatherings, maintain physical distancing, wash hands diligently, stay at home when feeling sick even if mildly, and limit times going out.

People can consider wearing a mask, especially now that there are more people out in the community and it may be difficult to maintain physical distancing.

“If they find that they could be in those situations, then I recommend that they consider the use of non-medical masks,” said Wang, adding that medicalgrade masks must be reserved for health-care providers.

The advice about wearing fabric masks or face coverings is not new, but Wang said on Monday that she wanted to mention the option because of the easing restrictions in Ontario.

“I do think it will be important for people to really continue to take the measures that we’re recommending as we’re slowly lifting.”

About two months have passed since public-health measures were put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, and Wang emphasized that lifting those restrictions must be gradual to avoid suffering greater health and economic impacts, as well as the need to backtrack.

“Our gains are still precarious. COVID-19 is still a significant threat and if we are not careful cases and outbreaks could rapidly escalate again,” she said. “That is why as Ontario is very slowly starting to lift restrictions, we need to be very careful and proceed very cautiously.”

The local public health department is now working to increase contract tracing, which is following up with people who were already infected or exposed. As well, the province is looking into an app.

“We’ve always been doing case and contact management, but we are working to be able to do even more of that as the restrictions start to lift,” Wang said.

The Monday morning update by public health added eight confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday’s 932 for a total of 940. One more person died to reach 103. Of the local cases, 493 are resolved and 45 are hospitalized. Eleven per cent of people who tested positive have died.

Outbreaks are declared at 12 long-term care and retirement homes across the region — up from 10 on Sunday.

Public transit

Regional council will consider at Wednesday’s meeting a staff recommendation to reinstate transit fares on June 1. Free fares on all Grand River Transit services were instituted on April 1 until the end of May.

“Our plan is to try and get back to fare service,” said chief administrative officer Mike Murray.

The main reason for free service was the move to rear-door boarding to ensure a safe environment for passengers and operators, but other measures are being put in place to allow safe front-door boarding again.

“We’re now able to collect fares on the buses,” Murray said.

The other reason was in recognition of a challenging fiscal time for many, but now there is a gradual reopening of the economy and some retail. Murray said the two months of free service was a helpful gesture appropriate in the circumstances.

“It’s appropriate to find an exit strategy from that,” Murray said.