Respiratory infectious diseases: Mask use for reducing the spread (2024)

You should wear a mask if you need to be around other people when you're sick. This is important even if you only have mild symptoms like a cough or sore throat. When possible, you should also stay at home until you no longer have symptoms.

If you must enter a public setting while sick, wear a mask to help protect those around you from getting sick.

Respirators and medical masks provide better protection against the spread of respiratory infectious diseases compared to non-medical masks. When choosing a mask, it's important to choose the best quality and best fitting mask available to you.

Learn more:

• Stay home when you're sick: Respiratory infectious diseases

In Canada, respiratory infectious diseases usually increase in fall and winter. Wearing a mask in public indoor settings can reduce your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness during these months.

Your local public health unit may also recommend masking during certain seasons depending on what viruses are circulating in your community.

The risk of respiratory infectious disease transmission may depend on the characteristics of the setting you're in, such as:

• size
• layout
• ventilation
• how crowded it is
• the length of time spent in the setting

These factors may influence your decision to wear a mask.

Settings where the risk of transmission is increased include those that:

• are small
• are crowded
• have poor ventilation
• have people visiting for longer periods of time

The risk of transmission is even greater when a setting has many of these characteristics.

There are certain settings where there's a higher risk of a respiratory infectious disease outbreak. For example, in group living settings, such as:

• shelters
• group homes
• retirement homes
• student residences
• correctional facilities

In many of these settings, people may also be at higher risk of serious complications from respiratory infections.

Events or activities that bring together a large number of people, including those who have travelled from different areas, may also increase the risk of transmission. This could include transportation settings like:

• trains
• buses
• subways
• airplanes
• airports or train stations

It also includes large indoor events like:

• concerts
• conferences
• indoor sporting events

Some people are at greater risk of severe disease or serious complications from respiratory infectious diseases. This may include:

• older people
• young children
• people who are pregnant
• people who are immunocompromised
• people who have other medical conditions

You may choose to wear a mask in certain situations if:

• you spend a lot of time with others who are at greater risk
• you're at risk of more severe complications from a respiratory infection

Respirators and medical masks provide better protection against the spread of respiratory infectious diseases compared to non-medical masks. When choosing a mask, it's important to choose the best quality and best fitting mask available to you.

A child may not be able to properly use and care for their mask because of their:

• age
• maturity
• physical or cognitive ability

Children under the age of 2 shouldnotwear masks.

Children between the ages of 2 and 5 may be able to wear a mask with supervision if they can:

• tolerate it
• put it on
• take it off

Children older than 5 should wear a mask in the same situations or settings as they're recommended for adults.

Learn more:

• When it's important to wear a mask

Some non-medical masks have transparent windows. You can use these masks:

• if you interact with people who are hard of hearing and lip read
• in settings where facial expression is an important part of communication

If you need a mask but one with a transparent window isn't available, when possible, instead of removing the mask:

• use closed captioning
• use written communication
• decrease background noise

If you must remove the mask, when possible, communicate in a well-ventilated space. Consider using other personal protective measures to help reduce the risk of transmission.

Learn more:

• COVID-19: Improving indoor ventilation
• Guidance for transparent medical mask technical specifications

When putting in place or making changes to mask policies for the workplace, employers should consult:

• occupational health and safety:
  • committees
  • representatives
  • acts and regulations
  • resources, such as the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety(CCOHS)
• their local public health authority

Operators of community settings should have a supply of masks available to:

• give to anyone who needs or requests a mask
• give to anyone who may develop symptoms on site
• wear if they need to assist a person with symptoms

This includes settings like:

• schools
• daycares
• event venues
• places of worship
• recreational facilities

Learn more:

• Respiratory infectious diseases: Health and safety resources (CCOHS)
• COVID-19: Provincial and territorial resources

Non-medical masks aren't considered medical devices under theMedical Devices Regulations. Face coverings or non-medical masks:

• aren't regulated as medical devices
• can't make medical claims or indicate they'll reduce or prevent the user from being infected by a disease

To date, Health Canada hasn't approvedanynon-medical masks as medical devices.

Health Canadadoesregulate respirators and medical masks as medical devices, which must meet a standard level of performance and quality requirements.

Learn more:

• Medical Devices Regulations

We do not recommend masks with exhalation valves as they:

• allow infectious respiratory particles to escape
• are less effective at preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases

Face shields on their own donotreplace masks. You can wear a face shieldwitha mask for added eye protection.

Without a mask, a face shield won't help prevent you or others from being exposed to infectious respiratory particles. These particles come from the nose and mouth and can escape around the face shield.

If you wear a face shield, choose one that extends around the sides of the face and below the chin. You'll still need to use other personal protective measures to help lower your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory infectious disease.

We donotrecommend neck gaiters (such as neck warmers), scarves and bandanas for use as a mask. They are not effective filters and may not fit well.

Many disposable masks are mostly made of plastic. Disposable masks are being thrown in the regular garbage at an increasing rate, with few opportunities for recycling. This increases the amount of:

• unrecycled waste going to landfills
• plastic pollution in the environment or water sources

If there's a mask recycling program where you live, consider using it.

You can also reuse a disposable mask when appropriate, such as if it's:

• not visibly dirty or damaged
• has never been damp or wet

This can help prevent the spread of respiratory infectious diseases while also reducing your environmental impact.

If using a disposable mask, always make sure that you dispose of it properly in a garbage container.

Learn more:

• How to choose, use and care for masks