(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) Global War Epidemic: Over 80,000 Accumulated Cases in Canada Officially Recommends People to Wear Masks for the First Time

　　China News Agency, Toronto, May 20 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) The Canadian public health department for the first time on May 20 local time made it clear that it is recommended that people wear non-medical masks in public situations where they cannot maintain a safe social distance with others. On that day, Canada reported a total of 80,000 confirmed and suspected cases of new coronary pneumonia.

On May 19th, local time, in the center of Toronto, Canada, a young man walked on the street wearing a "personality" mask. China News Service reporter Yu Ruidong

　　Canadian Chief Public Health Officer Tan Yongshi announced this new public health proposal at a press conference in Ottawa. She said that with the gradual recovery of social and economic activities, the use of non-medical masks and other facial masks is appropriate. But this is still not a mandatory requirement.

　　Tan Yongshi described the mask as an "extra layer of protection" where people can protect each other. She also recommended that even asymptomatic people wear masks to prevent infection.

　　The Canadian Public Health Agency still regards wearing masks as an auxiliary method that cannot replace other anti-epidemic measures, while continuing to emphasize that people should maintain social distance, try to stay at home as much as possible, and follow hygiene and anti-epidemic measures such as hand washing.

　　Tan Yongshi said that if the public can do their best to follow the key measures of the public health department, the spring and summer season will be a good opportunity to contain the epidemic.

　　Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that when entering the parliament building or in the office, if he can not maintain a social safety distance of more than 2 meters from his colleagues, he will wear a mask. But he also said that this is a "personal choice."

　　Tan Yongshi expressed no regret that the Canadian public health department did not advise the public to wear masks earlier. She said that by taking measures such as isolating patients and close contacts, and calling on the public to ban feet and wash hands frequently, the virus has been effectively prevented from spreading, and people are now aware of asymptomatic transmission.

　　The common perception among Canadians about masks is that patients only need to wear masks, and healthy people do not. In the early days of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the public health department did not encourage, or even opposed, ordinary people to wear masks. Tan Yongshi has said many times earlier that wearing a mask is not a proven and effective method of epidemic prevention, and it is easy to cause more risks due to the hand touching the outside of the mask.

　　The attitude of the Canadian health department has changed from early April. Tan Yongshi told the media for the first time on April 6 that people wearing non-medical masks can help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, which can protect others around them. But she also said that non-medical masks may not protect users themselves.

　　After entering May, the Canadian provinces began to try to gradually recover the economy, and some local home bans have been lifted. However, officials everywhere emphasized the need to be alert to the rebound of the epidemic. The Ontario Minister of Transportation said on May 20 that people who recommend taking public transportation should wear masks in principle. The governor of the province, Ford, said he would wear masks in public, "this is the right way to go."

　　As of the evening of May 20, a total of 80,142 cases were reported in Canada; 40,776 cases were recovered, accounting for about 51% of the cumulative number of cases; and 6031 related deaths. (Finish)