Canada: Alberta makes free non-medical masks to stem Covid-19 spread
Alberta/IBNS: In a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19 during the first phase of its reopening, Canadian province Alberta distributed more than 14 million free non-medical masks at A&W, McDonald’s Canada, and Tim Hortons drive-thrus across the province, media reports said.
An additional six million masks would be shared with municipalities, seniors organizations, indigenous partners, places of worship, and others to help limit the spread of Covid-19.
Due to the success of the program, the distribution of free non-medical masks at the three restaurant partners had been paused until the second phase in July.
Those Albertans, who have not received a mask, are asked to call 211 to request a package.
Alberta will distribute another 20 million masks in July, via drive-thrus and other partners, details of which will be announced in the next couple of weeks.
No other province in Canada has accomplished such a feat, said Health Minister Tyler Shandro.
Shandro added, "A program of this scale would not have been possible without your hard work and community support. We will continue to support Albertans as we move through stage two of relaunch, and people continue to get back to work.”
This initiative is a key part of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy to safely reopen its economy while protecting Albertans from Covid-19.
In addition to the masks shared via drive-thru windows, the Alberta government provided masks directly to Edmonton Transit, Calgary Transit, and municipalities without convenient access to a drive-thru; First Nations and Metis Settlements; Seniors organizations and independent living facilities; Long-term care and permanent supportive
living facilities; Women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and street outreach programs; Addiction treatment centers; Foster and kinship parents; and Albertans who contacted 211 and couldn’t access a drive-thru partner or the alternate municipal or community providers
The distribution of masks to municipalities who lack easy access to a drive-thru, First Nations, Metis Settlements, and other local agencies will continue following the timelines set by those groups.
More than two million masks will be provided to the places of worship across the province in the next few days for distribution to their congregations after the government received 1,000 requests from them for masks as of Jun 19.
(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
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