Face masks are part of Toronto’s COVID-19 recovery planning, mayor says

Thestar.com
May 4, 2020
David Rider

Urging or ordering Torontonians to wear face masks in some public settings is under consideration during Toronto’s COVID-19 recovery planning, Mayor John Tory said Thursday.

Tory made the comments on CP24 in response to a viewer question about some stores making face coverings mandatory to help prevent COVID-19 infections.

The mayor said city and public health officials are now debating the issue.

“I think there will be some recommendation coming on that, whether it’s in stores, restaurants, on the street, on the subway,” Tory said.

“We’ve got to come to grips with that, as to whether that’s going to help make sure, once we get the city reopening, we don’t go back to a second wave (of infections) because people aren’t wearing masks.

“I just don’t know enough to know if that will be coming, that kind of order or suggestion. Then, of course, the question arises ‘Where do the masks come from?’ It’s just under very active consideration as part of the recovery and reopening plans for the city.”

In response to questions from the Star, Tory wrote that people raise the issue of masks with him all the time. “Whether we should recommend people wear non-medical masks in stores, restaurants, in the subway, or on the sidewalk,” is a question that needs to be answered, he wrote.

Changing advice on how much cloth and other non-medical masks worn by regular citizens limit COVID-19 spread has been a controversial facet of the global pandemic.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s public health chief, has said non-medical masks, used properly, might prevent others from getting your germs. But they aren’t considered effective for protecting the user from infection, she said, adding people are safest staying home.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, on Monday said Canadians can consider wearing non-medical, or homemade, masks if they are in a situation where they cannot avoid close contact with people, such as on public transit or out buying groceries, the Star’s Tonda MacCharles reported.

Tam said her new advice, which was not an official recommendation, reflected rapidly changing scientific evidence about virus transmission by people not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

Canada’s supply of medical-grade masks, including N95 respirators, are needed to protect health care workers, Tam added.