Health Minister Patty Hajdu.
A frustrated Canadian health minister is pushing the need for masks and physical distancing at the same time.
Patty Hajdu stressed with COVID-19 numbers rising, and a potential second wave, health guidelines such as keeping apart must be maintained.
“I see this time and time again with masks… people are wearing a mask and coming into my space, and into other peoples’ spaces, and speaking loudly. A mask is the lowest form of protection, it’s just another layer,” says Hajdu.
The Thunder Bay MP adds she has turned down invitations for social gatherings in Ottawa and Thunder Bay to stay safe.
However, she recalls a recent gathering in Ottawa, in which people were being lax with health protocols.
“Essentially ten people gathered in a cottage, one of them was sick, who had mild symptoms like a cold, they all got tested. All of them are infected, they all went back to their households, spread it throughout their households, and in fact, some people are now seriously ill and hospitalized.”
The health minister noted when meeting anyone else, you do not know where else those people have been.
As for when the border with the United States will reopen, there are rumours it will stay closed through November, but she can’t verify that.
Hajdu admitted she is not part of those discussions but adds she is doing her part as health minister in regards to the border.
“It is really important that whatever we do at the federal level, we work with local and provincial public health authorities because at the end of the day, those are the people managing the cases. My goal as health minister is not to overburden the local health unit.”
Hajdu adds non-essential travel includes not buying gas in the U.S. or travelling to Florida.
