Home » Health » Mask wearing: Cardio-respiratory problems do not warrant exemption, says Dr Arruda

Mask wearing: Cardio-respiratory problems do not warrant exemption, says Dr Arruda

Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press

On July 13, Dr Horacio Arruda said that cardio-respiratory problems could justify an exemption from wearing a face covering for people “of a certain age”.

People with cardio-respiratory health problems do not benefit from an exemption from the compulsory wearing of a face covering in public transport and the closed public places, says the national director of public health in a letter sent to the health network this week.

During the press briefing announcing the obligation to wear a face covering in closed public places, on July 13, Dr Horacio Arruda had nevertheless referred to “cardiac or respiratory problems” when the journalists had questioned him on the conditions of health that may justify an exemption.

The information had been confirmed at HuffPost Quebec by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) on July 16.

However, in a letter sent to the health network on Monday and relayed by the MSSS to HuffPost Quebec, Dr. Arruda does an about-face. This opinion reflects the position of the national director of public health on the conditions for which an exemption could be granted by a health professional, for example.

Not only does Dr. Arruda assert that people suffering from chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases should not be exempted from wearing the mask “in the absence of another condition which would justify it”, but he adds that these “appear among those for which the benefits of wearing a mask or face cover are the highest ”.

For these people, using the procedural mask is preferable to a cloth face covering, he adds.

“Furthermore, we would like to state that people suffering from a chronic condition,
including cardiovascular disease and lung disease are among those
for which the benefits of wearing a mask or face cover are the highest.
For this reason, it is not recommended to grant an exemption from wearing the mask.
or the face covering to these people in the absence of another condition that would justify it.
It is also recommended that these people favor the use of the
procedure (medical mask) rather than a face covering when possible. “
– Extract from the letter sent by Dr Horacio Arruda to the health network on July 20.

More consistent

The new position of Dr. Arruda and the MSSS is more in line with that of the Canadian Thoracic Society, which affirms since the beginning of June that there is “no evidence that wearing a mask or facial blanket leads to a flare (exacerbation) of an underlying lung condition”.

The Company, which represents more than 1,000 healthcare professionals and researchers working in respiratory health, also believes that wearing a mask provides “extra protection” for people with underlying lung disease.

In its official recommendation on the wearing of a mask by the public, the Society nevertheless concedes that “breathing through a mask requires more effort”, which can cause “a feeling of shortness of breath”.

She suggests working with a healthcare professional to find strategies to tolerate the mask for short periods of time. A recommendation taken up by Dr Arruda.

In his letter, he recommends that people who do not benefit from an exemption – such as those with cardio-respiratory problems – but who have difficulty in wearing the face cover, to try several models in order to find one that is suitable for them. fits.

He further suggests to ‘door[r] the mask for short periods at a time while doing another activity to gradually adapt to the use of the mask or face covering ”.

Where appropriate, persons not benefiting from an exemption must refrain from visiting indoor public places.

Other medical conditions may justify an exemption from the compulsory wearing of a mask. Here are some examples provided by the MSSS:

  • People who are unable to put it on or take it off on their own due to a physical disability;
  • People with facial deformity;
  • People with a cognitive impairment, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder who are unable to understand the obligation or for whom wearing a mask or face covering causes disorganization or significant distress ;
  • People who have a severe skin condition on the face or ears that is significantly worsened by wearing a mask or face covering;
  • People for whom the attending physician considers that the risks associated with wearing a mask or face cover outweigh the individual and collective benefits of this measure. “The discomfort felt cannot be considered a significant risk”, however specifies Dr. Arruda in his letter.

The opposition calls for more clarity

The contradictory messages sent by Dr. Arruda just a few days apart made the liberal opposition in Quebec jump.

In a message to HuffPost Quebec, the press secretary of Dominique Anglade’s cabinet denounced the lack of clarity in the communications of the Caquist government about COVID-19.

“How can we say the opposite of what we said in such a short time?” asked Léa Carrière.

“Is it an about-face, a communication error or even an organizational management problem? In any case, this kind of statement must stop. Quebeckers are entitled to receive clear information from their government, ”she added.

Find tips for cleaning your cloth mask in the video below:

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