What does face covering mean?
|
- A face covering means a medical mask or a non-medical mask, such as a cloth mask that has been purchased or made, that covers the mouth, nose and chin ensuring a barrier that limits the transmission of infectious respiratory droplets.
- For best protection when using face coverings, or such non-medical masks (NMMs), choose one that is at least three layers, with a filter-type layer in the middle.
- Some face coverings are designed to prevent the spread of a person’s respiratory droplets, called source control. Others are designed to also protect the wearer from the spread of another’s, and are considered personal protective equipment (PPE). A cloth face covering is not considered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Choose the appropriate type of mask, depending on the use.
|
Where are face coverings required?
|
- Masking requirements removed in most places (including schools), except public transit, long-term care, retirement homes and other health-care settings, congregate care settings, shelters, jails and congregate care and living settings, including homes for individuals with developmental disabilities
|
How do I use, clean, and dispose of a face covering?
|
When wearing a face covering, you should:
- Wash your hands immediately before putting it on and immediately after taking it off (practise good hand hygiene while you are wearing the face covering)
- Make sure the face covering fits well around your nose and mouth
- Avoid moving the mask around or adjusting it often
- Avoid touching the covering while using it
Face coverings should be changed when they get damp or soiled. The main reasons for changing a damp face covering are:
- moisture reduces filtration and allows droplets to pass through,
- self-contamination,
- harder to breathe through when it is wet, and
- skin irritation.
Do not share your face coverings with others.
When removing a face covering, you should:
- Throw disposable face coverings out into a lined garbage bin
- Wash your hands
- Do not leave any discarded face coverings in shopping carts or on the ground
- Reusable face coverings must be cleaned frequently. If your face covering is damp or soiled you should:
- put it directly into the washing machine or a bag that can be emptied into the washing machine
- wash with other items using a hot cycle with laundry detergent (no special soaps are needed), and dry thoroughly
- wash your hands after putting the face covering into the laundry
- all face coverings that cannot be cleaned should be thrown out and replaced as soon as they get damp, soiled or crumpled.
- If a washing machine is not available, wash by hand using soap and warm to hot water. Allow to dry thoroughly.
|
