Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine
Canada’s Public-health experts are now fully recommending Canadians where non-medical face masks in public when they aren’t sure they will be able to keep their distance from others.
Dr. Theresa Tam said the new recommendation comes as stay-at-home orders are lifting in different provinces and more people are going outside, writing public transit or visiting stores.
“This will help us reopen and add another layer to how you go out safely,” Tam said May 20, 2020 in her daily briefing to Canadians on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The advice is slightly stronger than previous suggestions that people should consider wearing a face mask in public. It is a complete turnaround from her advice seven weeks previous that people who are not sick should not be wearing a face mask at all.
Tam said initially it was believed the novel coronavirus was only spreading from people showing symptoms. That understanding is change, as it is no know people can transmit the virus days before symptoms show up. Some patients may never show symptoms at all and can still spread the virus to others.
Tam said in future respiratory outbreaks, wearing facemask might become a normal part of the public-health response. She said the tried-and-true public health measures of testing, contact tracing, handwashing and physical distancing have worked to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Canada.
My opinion
As a business owner myself, we have found it necessary to agree that it is important to practice social distancing until a vaccine can be found. This vaccine, if effective, can get the country back up and running with full speed ahead instead of the half measures that are in place now.
Our company, HRS Group Inc., is a health and safety training company, in the Peterborough area, and our class sizes have been reduced to less than half. It is very difficult to have all of our employees back when the income is not back to pre-Covid-19 conditions.
I know all companies have felt the hit from the virus and I do hope that the introduction of the effective vaccine will be before the new year.
Keep your fingers crossed.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.