Living with COVID-19: Masking Choices
Everyone needs to be aware of their own personal risks for COVID-19 and make personal decisions about what they need to do to feel safe from developing severe disease.
While there is no mandate to wear masks in public spaces in Saskatchewan, some people may choose to do so based on their personal risk assessment. And that’s okay.
Masking can protect others from individuals who may have COVID-19 by preventing respiratory droplets from travelling through the air when they cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. Wearing a mask means the droplets stay in the mask. Wearing a mask also protects the individual wearing one by preventing any droplets in the air from reaching their mouth or nose.
People who are or who love someone who is at risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease if exposed to the virus may still choose to wear a mask when out in public or at different events because of the protection masks provide. Some parents may ask their children to continue to wear masks at school to provide a higher level of protection for themselves and others in their families. And some individuals and families may be perfectly comfortable not masking when they are out in public because their risk of developing severe COVID-19 is low.
All of it – whatever you decide – is okay. We’re all individuals and it is our individual choice whether to wear a mask or not.
However, please note that to protect the extremely vulnerable patients within SHA facilities, those entering are still required to put on a fresh medical mask. Certain businesses and venues may still have a masking requirement in place but in most other instances of everyday life, whether you wear a mask is up to you based on your own personal risk assessment. Please simply respect the choice of others, whatever they decide.
