ontario docs sign petition for mandated mask-wearing

a group of ontario doctors is urging the federal and provincial governments to mandate mask-wearing in an attempt to slow the spread of covid-19.in an open letter, the physicians call on health authorities to take a more aggressive mask strategy, based on emerging research about their effectiveness. they would like mask-wearing to be compulsory in all indoor spaces outside the home, in crowds and on transit.“we are respectfully requesting that strong consideration be given to the recommendation of mandatory mask policies to help protect more canadians,” reads the letter, which was initially signed by 18 physicians. they also ask that masks be distributed to vulnerable populations to “reduce inequity.”“we were concerned that masks as an intervention were not being used for a safe reopening,” says dr. jennifer kwan, a family doctor in burlington, ont. who is one of the signatories. “we’re hoping the government can recognize that masks are important for health and the economy and in preventing current outbreaks.”the physicians acknowledge that those with disabilities and young children can be exempt from wearing masks. they also stress that they don’t want penalties imposed on those who do not wear masks.the letter highlights recent data around mask-wearing, suggesting that just under half of canadians wear masks in canada, according to a new leger poll. they also cite evidence that in order to reduce the r₀ rate, which is the reproductive rate of the virus, 60 to 80 per cent of the population must wear masks. as it infects each new person, the virus reproduces.by 3:30 pm tuesday, 202 doctors had signed the letter. “there’s a lot of medical professional support for this,” says kwan.theresa tam, canada’s chief public health officer, has not made masks mandatory in canada. health canada currently recommends people wear cloth masks when social distancing is not possible. “wearing a homemade non-medical mask/facial covering in the community is recommended for periods of time when it is not possible to consistently maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others, particularly in crowded public settings, such as stores, shopping areas, public transportation,” reads its directive.kwan believed the messaging needs to change after months of conflicting statements. first, health authorities told canadians that masks don’t work. then they suggested that masks only protect others—but not the wearer. and now, kwan says, the messaging around wearing masks has been virtually non-existent. “they’ve not been pushing it very much,” she says.“a lot of people won’t wear masks because they think they don’t work,” she says. “we hope that in our role as physicians we can promote the right message that masks are effective in preventing the transmission of covid-19.”in the past month, a number of studies have emerged lending credence to the effectiveness of masks in limiting the spread of covid-19. mask wearing is mandated in countries like china and spain, and a number of u.s. states have also made it mandatory.don’t miss the latest on covid-19, reopening and life. subscribe to healthing’s daily newsletter coming out of covid.