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COVID-19: GNWT recommending 'do-it-yourself' face coverings

Strike will reduce NWT health services

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer is recommending residents use reusable or disposable face coverings when in public places, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

The GNWT's top doctor stated that as there is an evolving discussion on the need to use face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, it is recommended that materials from home can be used "to create effective, do-it-yourself face coverings," states the news release.

"While face coverings cannot prevent all contact with virus-containing droplets, they have been found to be effective in limiting the ability of these droplets to spread further from someone who may not be aware they have the virus," states the news release.

"This is a way to help each other help ourselves – if everyone wears face coverings while in public, we can limit the spread of COVID-19."

Health and safety recommendations still apply 

The Chief Public Health Officer's news release states that the recommended use of a face-covering is not intended to replace other health and safety precautions like keeping distance of at least two metres apart, staying home if feeling unwell, avoiding touching one's face, wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and water,  using alcohol-based sanitizer when putting on the mask and taking it off, cleaning and disinfecting contaminated high touch surfaces and covering one's mouth with an elbow if coughing or sneezing.

The news release also states that as the general public can take measures to protect themselves with the face coverings, employers are expected to complete workplace risk assessments and provide the appropriate types of protective gear for their workers.

Age limits 

The Chief Public Health Officer is also recommending that young children under two not wear facial coverings or non-medical masks. People who have breathing problems or who are "unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance" should not wear a face covering.

Fitting a face covering 

The Chief Public Health Officer also makes recommendations on how to fit a face covering which includes that they "fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face."

A good face-covering also is secured with ties or ear loops, includes multiple layers of fabric,  allows for breathing without restriction, can be washed and machine dried without damage or change to shape with hot temperatures, is made of tissue or paper towels if cloth cannot be found and should be thrown out after each period of use, is clean, and is placed in a clean plastic bag and wash between uses.

How to make a face-covering 

Effective fabric masks should have bare qualities, states the news release. Among recommendations include "at-minimum":

• At least two 10 x 6 inches of 100% cotton Acotton blend may be used if 100% cotton is not available. Polyester or nylon is not recommended

• Material to create loops to go around your ears – fabric or rubber bands are common

• Facial tissue, paper towel or coffee filters

The Chief Public Health Officer states that making a face-covering can be done with a sewing machine, however there are also "sew-free methods" too.

The full news release can be read online at at the Department of Health and Social Services website.

Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation 

The Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation began reaching out to all communities in the NWT on Tuesday to recruit people with sewing talents to create cloth masks.

"We're going to do our best to implement a program where we can have proper material and supplies provided for each community and will get one or two sewers for each household," said Wilbert Cook executive director of the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation.

The intent is to make as many cloth masks as possible for those that want them and provide at least one face mask per household in every community, he said.

"It has to be stressed that doing this  process of making cloth masks won't stop the coronavirus," Cook said. "People have to still pay attention to things like social distancing, handwashin, etc etc."

Rather, the idea of creating masks is intended as another practice to add onto the other precautions people are taking during the pandemic, Cook said.

Cook said the foundation has only begun to get responses but is looking to have numerous people with sewing talents over the coming days.

"I have already received several responses from seamstresses in the north and lot have come forward to donate material and have offered seamstress service for free," he said.