The COVID-19 pandemic has meant shortages of food and supplies and good luck finding disinfectant wipes anywhere as people try and protect themselves against the virus.
In very short supply are face masks, in fact Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, has asked that masks be conserved for frontline workers and those directly involved with the care of COVID-19 patients.
This has prompted people to make them for their own use and also for donation to those in need, including Shannon Mader, owner of D & S Upholstery in Bridgewater who is making full face shields out of marine vinyl and cotton face masks. He has worked in the business for 35 years and said this is the first time he has done something like this. Luckily he has a lot of product to use.
“It’s just sitting under my table so I might as well use it for something good,” he said.
That raises the question of just how effective homemade masks are in terms of virus protection. According to the experts they do offer some protection.
Dr.Tam tweeted that non-medical masks including homemade ones may stop you from touching your nose and mouth. They could also help maintain cough etiquette by covering your cough if you are ill or have early symptoms of COVID-19.
She cautions that in order to avoid getting infected with or spreading COVID-19 when you wear a face mask it should be well-fitting with no gaps and you must practice good hygiene before,during and after wearing it.
Most importantly she said that masks can become contaminated on the outside or when touched by hands so avoid touching it while using it and wash and disinfect it if fabric or discard and replace with a new mask as soon as it gets damp.
