‘Canada’s Trudeau government recommended Sunday that used face masks be disinfected and recycled due to a shortage of the coronavirus personal protective equipment (PPE).
The appeal comes after a recent revelation that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau authorized the transfer of approximately 17 tons of protective supplies to China — when that country was in the midst of its coronavirus outbreak in February.
Now, with the COVID-19 virus afflicting Canada, doctors and hospitals are reporting a shortage of equipment, with some facilities limiting physicians to one face mask a day. (RELATED: Report: Trudeau Wanted Unaccountable Taxation Powers In Coronavirus Bill)
Canada’s chief public health officer addressed the issue in her regular news conference Sunday in Ottawa. Dr. Theresa Tam said the government’s priority is to ensure the ongoing safety of front-line health care workers who are especially vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 virus due to their close proximity to victims.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam attends a news conference as efforts continue to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo
Tam suggested there are “multiple entities” in Canada that are capable of disinfecting face masks so that they can stay in use.
She said in the meantime, the used equipment should be put in a safe place because the potential for decontaminating the face masks “is one of the most important and I think worthwhile lines of pursuit for PPE right now.”
Tam also recommended “signalling to provinces and territories that certain things shouldn’t be thrown away right now, so that we can actually implement this should we find the actual people who can do this.” (RELATED: Trudeau Says Canada Will Start Sending Back Illegal Border Crossers)
A recent decision by President Donald Trump to prevent American manufacturers of face masks from selling them to foreign countries has also affected the Canadian supply of the protective gear.
Canada’s Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Blair Gable
Official Opposition Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said the face mask ban was “Extremely worrying. This is why we need transparent weekly government updates during this crisis. Canadians must know that we have enough respirators, personal protective equipment, and access to the supplies we need.”
Extremely worrying. This is why we need transparent weekly government updates during this crisis. Canadians must know that we have enough respirators, personal protective equipment, and access to the supplies we need. https://t.co/CS6JMpkRCp
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) April 3, 2020
Trudeau said Sunday that he is reaching out to Trump to try to convince the president to reverse his decision.“I am confident we are going to be able to solve this.”