Health evidence doesn't support another mask mandate, says Fitzgerald

While cases of respiratory illnesses are surging elsewhere in Canada — and starting to tick upward in Newfoundland and Labrador — the provincial chief medical officer of health says she can't implement a mask mandate since the situation isn't a public health emergency.

But Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said she still recommends wearing a mask in places where there's high risk for contracting a respiratory illness, including COVID-19.

"That recommendation continues to be there for public health, and of course in our health-care facilities we are still asking that people will mask. It is required there," Fitzgerald said at a media briefing Tuesday afternoon.

"The recommendation may become stronger as time goes on and as we see changes. Obviously as we monitor and make our decisions based on the evidence, that may change."

Some of Fitzgerald's equivalents in other provinces are urging the public to begin wearing masks again as respiratory illness, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus — or RSV — cases rise, adding further pressure to already overwhelmed emergency departments and children's hospitals. 

In October, Fitzgerald said there would have to be a significant impact to the health system, and an exhaustion of all other measures, to bring back COVID-19 restrictions like a mask mandate.

Fitzgerald said Newfoundland and Labrador is seeing "some activity" in flu and other respiratory illnesses but not to the same extent as in other places. 

She said there have been increased calls to the provincial health line and more visits to emergency rooms for respiratory illness.

"We expect an increase this time of year and continue to monitor," she said. 

But Fitzgerald says the current evidence doesn't support reintroducing a mask mandate in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We've had a few sporadic cases of flu. We're not seeing the same increases that they're seeing elsewhere," she said. 

"We have to have the evidence, before you start infringing on peoples' rights, that you have the evidence to support doing so and that there's really no other way to mitigate that risk."

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Nationally, however, influenza cases are above expected levels for this time of year.