Linda Lapointe, a vice-president at Quebec s largest nurses union, said she s pleased with the decision but says N95 masks should also be worn in areas where patients are awaiting COVID-19 test results. Her union is suing the government to have those masks issued more widely among health-care workers. There s no doubt that they re better, she said. The procedural mask is not a respiratory protection device, it s not in the class of the respiratory protection devices.
But Dr. Mark Loeb, professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster University, says it s unclear whether N95 masks actually offer health-care workers more protection against COVID-19 than surgical masks. Loeb is conducting a study to find out.
#1197 of 1327 articles from the Special Report:
Coronavirus in Canada
N95 personal protective masks, used by medical and law enforcement professionals, are shown on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, in Salem, N.H. File photo by The Associated Press/Charles Krupa
Quebec’s workplace safety board will require workers wear N95 masks in areas of health-care facilities where patients are COVID-19 positive, but one health expert says studies have indicated the benefits are unclear.
The safety board made the announcement Tuesday after months of pressure from nurses unions for their members to have greater access to N95 masks designed to have a close fit and to filter 95 per cent of very small particles. The new rule goes into effect Feb. 11.
Jacob Serebrin
N95 personal protective masks, used by medical and law enforcement professionals, are shown on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, in Salem, N.H. Experts say thereâs no evidence N95 respirators provide health-care workers and their patients with more protection against COVID-19 than surgical masks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP /Charles Krupa) February 09, 2021 - 1:35 PM
MONTREAL - Quebecâs workplace safety board will require workers wear N95 masks in areas of health-care facilities where patients are COVID-19 positive, but one health expert says studies have indicated the benefits are unclear.
The safety board made the announcement Tuesday after months of pressure from nurses unions for their members to have greater access to N95 masks â designed to have a close fit and to filter 95 per cent of very small particles. The new rule goes into effect Feb. 11.