blogcutter

Well, they did it. In Ottawa at least, it is now mandatory to wear a mask in public indoor spaces. There are a few exceptions - kids under two, people with respiratory or other health issues that preclude mask-wearing, people who cannot remove them without assistance. As long as it's monitored in a reasonable and flexible way, and as long as everyone can get masks who needs them, I don't have too much of a problem with it. Lots of people seem to approve of the new measure, especially if it means things can re-open sooner. And in practical terms, I'm ready for it.

We have a selection of masks on hand now, in various colours, patterns and styles. Some have the built-in wire nose-piece; most have adjustable ear loops, usually elastic although one of the home-made ones has ribbon ties instead of loops. We also have a package of disposable filters and I've ordered some permanent ones too that you can wash and re-use almost indefinitely. I usually wash our masks in a zippered pillowcase; they do usually require hanging up at least overnight to dry. And I ordered a couple of face shields as well, although apparently they won't be legal substitutes for masks. Speaking of which, I was rather taken with this photo of face-shielded kids in a library somewhere in Japan:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/briefing/how-badly-is-america-doing.html

I hope they'll adjust the rules over time - for example, using a mask in a restaurant would NOT be my idea of fun!