BC Center for Disease Control

Wearing masks if you are healthy

Wearing a non-medical or cloth mask or face covering is a matter of personal choice but can help to protect others. Some people can spread the virus when they have very mild symptoms or may be unaware they are infected. In this case, wearing a mask can help protect others by containing your own droplets from coughing, sneezing, speaking or laughing. Wearing a cloth mask will not protect you from COVID-19 but it is a good option in situations where you cannot keep a safe distance from others for an extended period of time such as when you are on transit, getting a haircut or visiting someone indoors.

Any mask, no matter how efficient at filtration or how good the seal, will have minimal effect if it is not used together with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing and physical distancing. 

It is important to treat people wearing masks with respect