Meili encouraging citizens to wear masks to mitigate spread of COVID-19

Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili is encouraging people to wear a mask in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19, as long as the face coverings are not those that would be needed by health care workers.

Speaking during an online news conference Sunday afternoon, Meili said the evidence has progressed to the point where masks would be a good idea.

He said they would protect the wearer and those who might come into contact with them, preventing the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

“A mask can really help prevent you from passing on the virus by coughing or sneezing … or ways of sending out droplets. That can be a really helpful way of reducing the spread of the virus,” Meili said.

Meili’s comments come after the recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying people should wear homemade masks to prevent the spread of the illness.

In Canada, the country’s chief public health officer is considering whether to make the same recommendation.

Meili said his suggestion does not send a different message than Dr. Theresa Tam, as they both stress that surgical and N-95 masks should be reserved for health care workers.

That’s why he’s encouraging people to make their own out of household materials. Meili, a family physician, has posted a video demonstrating a simple design and proper usage.

“A cloth mask does the trick. There are cloth masks you can buy online. Hopefully we will see more folks stepping up to produce them locally,” he said.

His recommendation also came with a warning that wearing a mask is not an alternative to advice being given by public health officials, including diligent hand washing with soap and water, staying home and practicing physical distancing.

“This is an addition. It is an enhancement, not a replacement. You still have to keep doing all of those stay-at-home measures,” Meili said.