FITTED AND FILTERED CLOTH MASKS WILL STILL WORK, ALBERTA'S TOP DOCTOR SAYS.

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada: As long as they fit and have at least one layer offering "good filtration," cloth masks are still allowed in public settings, Alberta's chief medical officer of health said.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw made the comments regarding the personal protective equipment (PPE) after announcing 6,257 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours.

There is no conclusive evidence that N95 masks provide sufficient additional benefit in these settings," she wrote. "Using N95 masks is an option, but a well-fitting medical mask provides significant benefit."

Additionally, cloth masks remain effective protection against the virus, but they must possess certain characteristics, she said.

"(They) must be well-fitting and multi-layered, with at least one layer providing good filtration," she said.

Whatever type of mask you choose to wear, make sure it fits very well and use all other layers of protection possible including staying distanced, avoiding crowded places, maximizing ventilation and reducing the amount of time you spend in any setting outside your home."