The Canadian Press
The Manitoba government says it’s willing to sign purchase orders worth up to $15 million to companies that can quickly make reusable masks as it continues to look for equipment to protect health-care workers as they fight COVID-19.
Chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin and chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa told a news conference on Saturday that the government wants local companies to make the masks, which have been designed by a team of medical experts at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre.
The province says the masks have a silicone base and use an N95 or higher grade filter.
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can cause an illness known as COVID-19. The symptoms include fever and dry cough.
Unlike a common cold, people with COVID-19 generally do not have a runny nose or a sore throat. Remember that although the virus can seriously impact all ages, older people are at higher risk of developing severe illness.
Read how to best keep seniors and children safe.
According to a large study in China, the vast majority of those infected with the novel coronavirus:
- 81 per cent of patients have mild symptoms
- 14 per cent of patients had severe symptoms, including trouble breathing
- Just under 5 per cent of patients suffered critical illness, meaning they needed to be on a respirator
The overall fatality rate in China is 2.3 per cent.
However, it is not yet clear how deadly COVID-19 is because many mild cases have likely gone undetected. Remember, you are far more likely to have a cold or even the flu than COVID-19. In all cases, the treatment is the same – you treat the symptoms with fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and bed rest. You should not treat fever with ASA-based painkillers such as Aspirin, especially in children. Antibiotics do not help; they only work for bacterial illnesses.
Read our daily coronavirus newsletter for updates.
Check the World Health Organization’s information page for more details on the virus, and The Globe and Mail’s guide of what health officials say is helpful for the public to do or not do about it.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Petropolis, who led the design team, said in a news release the small disk filter uses considerably less N95 material, the main component that has led to a worldwide mask shortage.
Siragusa says that last week in particular was a “wakeup call” for Manitoba as it, like other jurisdictions worldwide, tried to obtain enough protective equipment.
She says the province wants to get away from relying on outside sources for the gear.
“As much as possible we want made-in-Manitoba solutions. I just think that’s our best bet for getting through the weeks and months ahead,” she said.
The province says a portion of the $15 million may be available in advance to supplement start-up costs.
Siragusa said shortages of protective equipment has forced the postponement of elective non-urgent surgery, and has also caused changes in diagnostic procedures.
The province said the reusable masks are as effective as other commercially avilable N95 masks.
“One thing that has never shifted and is always top of mind in every conversation is the importance of making sure that our staff are safe,” Sigursa said.
Manitoba said Saturday that it had 226 confirmed 17 presumptive cases of COVID-19. Four people in the province have died.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2020.