As the holidays come to an end, our region’s Medical Officer of Health says you should consider getting new masks before returning to work. Dr. Paula Stewart says the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has updated its guidelines, now recommending people who prefer cloth masks switch to three-ply masks.
“There’s a polypropylene as the third layer,” Dr. Stewart says, “which is a material which is very dense, and really holds virus in, and prevents virus from coming in. So, if you’re gonna use a cloth mask, then use a three-ply one.”
Dr. Stewart also says a well-fitted level 1 medical mask does an excellent job of limiting the spread of COVID-19. “They’re really, really abundant right now, there’s lots of them,” she says, “so that’s another good option, because it fits around the nose really nicely. A well-fitted one does a really good job of covering you, and preventing both virus going out and virus coming back in again.”
Aside from the mask recommendations, Dr. Stewart is encouraging you to get vaccinated if you haven’t yet, and maintain social distance to limit the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. The Health Unit’s website has more details, including a vaccine appointment booking portal.