Health Authority Posts How To Wear Face Masks Properly

With Saskatchewan posting the lowest numbers of people prepared to wear masks to potentially help slow the spread of COVID - 19 in a recent Angus Reid public opinion poll plus the number of active cases rising the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has posted a set of do's and dont's for face mask wearing.

Angus Reid's poll found 45 percent of Saskatchewan residents opposed wearing masks in public the highest opposition in the country. The poll also found Saskatchewan had the highest number of people not worried about contracting COVID - 19.

The mandated wearing of face masks in public is a controversial and emotionally charged issue with protests against mask wearing in Regina and Saskatoon over this past weekend.

The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses have also recently called for mandatory wear of face masks in public places.

In a visit to the Superstore in Moose Jaw on Monday at 11:00 MJ Independent spent an hour counting the number people wearing and not wearing face masks. About 20 percent of grocery shoppers were wearing face masks. All were women who appeared to be over the age of 65.

Wearing face masks has become a fashion statement with many stylish cloth designs available - MJ Independent photo

Wearing face masks has become a fashion statement with many stylish cloth designs available - MJ Independent photo

At the present time the numbers of people with confirmed cases of COVID - 19 is spiking in the province.

There are now 145 active cases of COVID - 19 in Saskatchewan. Most of the new cases are in the South area (which includes Moose Jaw). On July 9th there were 48 active cases of COVID - 19 in the province.

According to the SHA's website wear a mask in a public setting is just one of the measures to slow the potential spread of COVID - 19.

Other measures such as proper physical distancing of at least two meters, hand washing, coughing into your elbow and not touching your face without first cleaning your hands must be maintained the SHA says.

The SHA recommends the following:

Wear your mask co​​rr​ectly:

  • Wash your ha​​nds before putting on your face covering.

  • Put it over yo​ur nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.

  • Fit it sn​​ugly around the sides of your face.

  • Make sur​​e you can breathe easily.

Note: Cloth f​​ace masks should be made of at least two layers of tightly woven material fabric (such as cotton or linen).

Use masks to pro​​tect others:

  • Wear a non-med​ical or cloth mask to help protect others, even when you don’t have symptoms.

  • Wear the cove​​ring in public settings when around people outside of your household, especially when other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

  • Do launder clo​​​th masks after every use.

  • Do wash your cl​​oth mask with hot, soapy water and let it dry completely before wearing it again.

  • Do replace any m​ask if it’s dirty or soiled.

  • Do store a re-usa​ble mask in a clean environment until you wear it again.

  • Avoid touch​ing and adjusting the mask once it’s on. If you do touch your mask, wash or sanitize your hands.

  • Don’t put the co​​​​vering around your neck or up on your forehead.

  • Don’t sh​are your mask.

  • Don’t re-​​​use disposable masks. 

  • Don’t lea​ve your used mask within the reach of others.

Note:  Child​​​ren under age two, or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance, should not wear cloth face coverings.

Take off your fac​​​e covering carefully:

  • Untie the strings behind yo​​ur head or stretch the ear loops.

  • Handle on​​ly by the ear loops or ties.

  • Fold outs​​ide corners together.

  • Place use​d cloth covering in the washing machine; place used disposable masks in a plastic lined garbage bin. 

  • Be car​eful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately after your mask is removed.

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