Ontario, Alberta change policy limiting N95 masks as health-care workers demand greater access

Published by: The Globe and Mail
Published on: April 2, 2020
By Carly Weeks

At least two provinces have bowed to union pressure to let some health professionals use specialized respirator face masks when treating COVID-19 patients, sparking concern among infection-control experts this will undermine health workers’ trust in their advice.

Alberta and Ontario have reached agreements with unions to allow some health-care workers to use N95 respirator masks if they feel it is necessary. Nova Scotia’s largest nursing union is now calling on provincial officials to do the same.

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Ontario

Roughly 55 million N95 masks in Ontario expired before coronavirus hit

Published March 9, 2020

Published by: Global News / Reuters
Published on: March 9, 2020
By Allison Martell, Moira Warburton

Millions of face masks stockpiled by Ontario in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak to protect healthcare workers during a future epidemic have expired, according to provincial officials and documents, raising questions about the readiness of Canada’s most populous province to deal with the spreading coronavirus.

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China

Chinese officials investigate cause of pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan

Published December 31, 2019

Published by: Reuters
Published on: December 31, 2019

Chinese health authorities said they are investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan, after rumors on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

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Tag: COVID-19