Another 20 million non-medical masks will be available at A&W, McDonald’s, and Tim Horton locations across Alberta starting July 13. Back at the start of June, the Government of Alberta distributed masks to these restaurants to hand out to Albertans to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The province used this method as they found it would be the most effective way to distribute masks to Albertans. Around 90 percent of Albertans live within 10 km of one of these drive-thru restaurants.

Restaurant Manager at the Shell Tim Hortons location in Strathmore Chris Nagrampa said the response to the free masks was slow at first but more and more people were coming through the drive-thru just to get masks. Nagrampa mentioned their store alone gave out about 20,000 masks.

She explained that she thinks the masks are a great way to help prevent the spread of the virus. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, that’s how I see it. Wearing the mask I think would be a good practice for everybody,” said Nagrampa. She added that she understands the masks may be uncomfortable and will take some time to get used to but believes it’s a necessary precaution to take when it comes to preventing the spread of the pandemic.

In June, a total of around 20 million masks were distributed through the participating restaurants, municipalities, long-term care facilities, First Nations and Metis Settlements, and other organizations. Alberta is the only province in Canada to offer a program like this to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said, “The first phase of free mask distribution in Alberta was a huge success and the response was an incredible show of community support. Thank you to all Albertans who are doing their part to keep each other safe as we move through stage two of relaunch.”

Wearing a non-medical mask when it's difficult to maintain physical distancing of two metres is one way people can continue to limit the spread of COVID-19 as the province relaunches. This initiative is a key part of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy to safely reopen the economy while protecting Albertans from COVID-19.

In addition to the masks now being resupplied to restaurant partner locations, the government is also providing more masks to:

- Municipalities without easy access to a restaurant partner location

- First Nations and Metis Settlements

- Places of worship

- Transit services provincewide, including in Calgary and Edmonton

  •  7-Eleven Canada is providing no-cost shipping of masks from the government’s warehouses to transit system operators across the province

- Seniors organizations and independent living facilities

- Long-term care and supportive living facilities

- Women’s shelters, homeless shelters and street outreach programs

- Addiction treatment centres

- Other organizations that have highlighted a need for masks

Currently, mask use is not mandatory in Alberta but is recommended as an option in situations where maintaining a distance of two metres is not possible. Albertans are also urged to purchase their own supply of non-medical face masks, to use in addition to the ones provided by the government.