"Quebec advises citizens to wear masks in public to slow spread of virus
...The government’s main guidelines on how to use face coverings are summed up in a 90-second video featuring Montreal-based emergency doctor and magazine columnist Alain Vadeboncoeur that was posted to YouTube. Vadeboncoeur underlines the importance of washing one’s hands before putting on a mask and after having removed it.
A two-page document posted on the health ministry’s website also shows how people can make their own masks, with or without sewing, by using bandanas or elastics.
...All non-essential businesses in Quebec are closed until May 4. Once restrictions are lifted and Quebecers start spending more time outside, they will probably have trouble keeping their distances — whether they’re riding a bus or shopping for groceries.
In those cases, it’s better to wear even a homemade mask, Arruda said.
Quebec recommends using at least two thicknesses of cloth to make a face covering. A tightly woven fabric such as cotton is preferable because it lets the air pass through as the user breathes.
“The important thing is a fabric that lets the air in,” Arruda said. “There are many ways to make a mask. At worst, a good scarf can help.”
Health Canada has deemed masks and respirators “essential” during the COVID-19 outbreak. That’s because face coverings help curtail the spread of the virus and protect health care workers.
...Quebec’s recommendations broadly match those of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently advised “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain,” especially in areas where community-based transmission is significant.
Masks should be changed if they’re wet, soiled or damaged, as contamination can occur by touching and reusing contaminated coverings.
Face coverings should be washed regularly, Quebec and the CDC say. A washing machine should suffice for the job.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/lo...wear-masks-in-public-to-slow-spread-of-virus/