In some parts of the world, including states and cities in the United States, face masks are mandatory. In these regions, if you go out in public, you must wear a face mask or risk getting fined. This is, of course, to prevent the spreading of COVID-19.
Could a mandatory face mask order happen in Canada – very unlikely, we say. Here’s why.
Currently, it is the recommendation of the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to wear a face mask, such as the FDA-certified KN95 mask, if one goes out in public.
First off, this is a recommendation – not a requirement. Secondly, in Canada, we don’t have this same advice. Our public health recommendations are to prioritize social distancing and face masks are only encouraged to be adopted in settings where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as in public transit.
Just because it isn’t recommended to wear COVID-19 face masks in Canada, it hasn’t discouraged some from wearing them. And that’s ok! Face masks prevent the spread of coronavirus. If someone chooses to wear a face mask voluntarily, they are absolutely allowed. It is far more important, however, to maintain social distancing and to wash one’s hands regularly. Anyone wearing a face mask should continue social distancing.
In areas where mandatory orders have been adopted, they’re very hard-hit. The coronavirus outbreak in these areas is, generally speaking, very out of control. They either haven’t hit their peak yet, are seeing a significant amount of community spreading, or have seen very high fatalities. Here in Canada, we have many of these same issues and we are certainly at risk of worsening social conditions around COVID-19
Despite the similarities between there and here, our situation in Canada hasn’t necessitated a mandatory face mask order. As we’ve seen provinces such as Manitoba and New Brunswick boast increasingly smaller numbers of cases, and with provinces like Ontario starting to gain control over the spread, things are looking up. We aren’t out of the woods yet with COVID-19. The possibility of a second wave also exists. Unless if something truly catastrophic happens in community spreading, no region in Canada is likely to ever see a mandatory face mask requirement.
For peace of mind, some of us still want to wear a face mask. Here’s where you can buy a face mask in Canada. Living.ca. Ordering is easy. You get them delivered to your front door. You do not have to worry about a thing. Whether it’s face masks, face shields, or other COVID-19 essentials, Living.ca is your one-stop shop for everything.
Featured photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
