With the highly transmissible Omicron variant now here, Canadians are being urged by some experts to ditch certain types of masks in favour of a mask that will offer more protection, like an N95.
That being said, finding one of those masks in local stores is becoming increasingly difficult.
"Yes, I would love an N95 mask," said island resident Elaine Lewis. "No, I can’t find an N95 mask, no pharmacy has them."
With the variant spreading fast across the country, one of Canada’s top experts says it’s time to up our mask game.
"If you have a single-layer cloth mask, ditch it, full stop," said Dr. Peter Jüni, scientific director of Ontario’s Science Advisory Table.
Some are now looking for added protection from the new strain.
"I just thought it was a good idea to have some N95 masks for close encounters," said John Kurran.
Finding those masks is becoming nearly impossible. Calling around to pharmacies in Greater Victoria, N95 masks were sold-out – and looking online was equally unsuccessful.
"We’re down to one box and that’s it," said Keijo Rannankari, assistant manager at Cook Street Castle Building Centre.
At Cook Street Castle on Monday, there was one box of 10 on the shelf, and their supplier is limiting the amount of masks that can be ordered at one time.
"It was like 96, so it’s quite a few," said Rannankari.
That order is now on back-order.
"I’m just here to avoid danger by picking up some N95 masks," said Dan Danger.
Danger grabbed what Castle is not in short supply of, KN95 masks.
The difference between the two is still being debated, but in short, N95 masks are the U.S. standard for respiratory masks. KN95 masks are the Chinese standard. Both still offer better protection than your typical cloth mask.
"I think the N95 has always been a more safe and secure mask," said Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre.
The infectious disease doctor says the choice whether to wear an N95 mask or a cloth mask should be a personal decision if someone is looking for added protection.
If they do decide to stick with a cloth mask, make sure it’s on your face properly. He says there is a way to test to see if your mask is properly fitting so it will be effective.
"Put your hand about 10 or 15 centimetres in front of the mask and blow out as hard as you can," said Conway.
"If you can feel the air on your hand, this is not a good mask. If you cannot feel the air on your hand, that is probably good enough," he said.
Whichever route you choose to go, cloth or medical-grade, mask wearing appears to be more critical than ever during the Omnicron wave of the pandemic.
Calls continue for a major shakeup at Hockey Canada following recent revelations around how the organization handled past claims of sexual assault.
Organizers of the papal visit say the Vatican has 'clarified' part of Pope Francis's apology to residential school survivors, noting an error occurred during translation.
Tim Hortons has reached a proposed settlement in multiple class action lawsuits alleging the restaurant's mobile app violated customer privacy, which would see the restaurant offer a free coffee and doughnut to affected users.
Across the country, police and fraud-prevention experts are warning Canadians to be vigilant with reports of 'grandparent scams' targeting seniors on the rise.
The Supreme Court of Canada says sex with a condom is a different physical act than sex without one, and that the use of a condom can be a condition of consent under sexual assault law.
A 27-year-old doctor who died after collapsing during a triathlon this week is being remembered as a vivacious and outgoing person with a true passion for medicine.
An obstetrician-gynecologist in Montreal had his licence revoked after he allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments to a patient in labour.
Experts say that while there's no use in postponing vacations indefinitely in the hopes of COVID-19 being eradicated, there are ways to mitigate risks while travelling, from masking indoors to filling the itinerary with more outdoor activities.
More than a dozen Ontario hospitals are expecting significant staff shortages ahead of the long weekend.
A couple from Alberta who seemingly disappeared while passing through northern B.C. are safe and accounted for, Mounties said.
A criminal investigation is underway following allegations of misconduct at a British Columbia police training course earlier this year, one of the province's police watchdogs confirms.
A care aide has been charged following the theft of credit cards from an elderly man in Metro Vancouver.
Organizers of the papal visit say the Vatican has 'clarified' part of Pope Francis's apology to residential school survivors, noting an error occurred during translation.
Parks Canada says it is monitoring an anthrax outbreak in remote areas of Wood Buffalo National Park.
A couple from Alberta who seemingly disappeared while passing through northern B.C. are safe and accounted for, Mounties said.
A couple from New Zealand who spent more than $4,500 to rent an Airbnb in Toronto were evicted by police in the middle of the night after a man showed up claiming the unit was his.
A 27-year-old doctor who died after collapsing during a triathlon this week is being remembered as a vivacious and outgoing person with a true passion for medicine.
A Toronto nightclub has had its liquor licence suspended following a fatal shooting earlier this month.
The man accused of killing a young couple in a drunk driving crash near Trochu, Alta. last month has been granted bail.
A Calgary family is desperate to get a special bike returned after it was stolen earlier this month.
A couple from Alberta who seemingly disappeared while passing through northern B.C. are safe and accounted for, Mounties said.
An obstetrician-gynecologist in Montreal had his licence revoked after he allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments to a patient in labour.
This summer-season wave is higher than Quebec public health officials anticipated but it is stabilizing, Dr. Luc Boileau said Friday.
A group of young nurses and their professors say they need to speak out about the mistreatment of Indigenous patients they've witnessed within Montreal's health-care system, particularly involving people experiencing homelessness.
The RCMP is seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a doctor who says he faced a barrage of racist abuse after he was accused of breaking COVID-19 rules in New Brunswick.
As many Nova Scotians prepare for a long weekend, Nova Scotia Health is warning residents they will likely face long wait times for ambulances and in hospital emergency rooms if they need medical care.
New Brunswick’s Vitalité Health Network says wait times were “not above standard” and there were enough resources in the emergency department at the Edmundston hospital when a patient died there last weekend.
The CEO of Assiniboia Downs is speaking out against a regulatory ruling into a race last week that went viral.
Human remains that were discovered at an Oakville, Man. home at the end of 2021 have been determined to be those of a previous resident.
A human case of West Nile virus (WNV) has been identified in Manitoba, according to Manitoba Health.
Police are looking for a 26-year-old man who was last seen falling off his Seadoo into the Grand River Thursday night, according to Ontario Provincial Police with the Brant County Detachment.
Waterloo regional police have released photos of a person they believe was involved in a robbery at a business on King Street in Waterloo.
SaskPower customers will notice an increase in price on bills starting in September.
A Regina woman is facing several charges after more than 6.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized during a drug trafficking investigation.
Health care staff in southeast Saskatchewan are mourning the loss of a colleague who died unexpectedly last weekend.
A 40-year-old man is facing numerous drug charges following a traffic stop in Parry Sound on July 9.
Police have identified the pedestrian killed in a collision in Fenelon Falls Tuesday afternoon.
The York Regional Police Homicide Unit is investigating the suspicious death of a 22-year-old woman in Newmarket.
Residents of Montgomery Place are asking the City of Saskatoon for public consultation on a project that they say could hinder access to their community.
Saskatoon police played a key role in an auto theft investigation involving hundreds of vehicles worth millions of dollars.
Dozens of people took part in a walk to honour Dawn Walker and Vincent Jansen on Thursday morning, a mother and son who were reported missing on Sunday night.
Members of Serpent River First Nation are celebrating the return of a piece of waterfront land on Elliot Lake, the community's chief told CTV News in an online interview. 'It's a great first step,' said Brent Bissaillion, the First Nation's ogimaa -- the Ojibwe word for elected chief.
The Timmins Police Service is issuing a traffic advisory warning drivers that left turns are not allowed for eastbound traffic on Wilson Avenue at the intersection with Mountjoy Street South.
Ontario paramedics' groups say health-care staffing shortages and recent temporary emergency room closures are exacerbating delays in getting patients into hospitals -- and ambulances back in the community.
© 2022 All rights reserved. Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy