Starbucks Canada is to require all their employees to wear homemade face mask's to "protect" their employees from the deadly Coronavirus. Starbucks has remained open throughout the pandemic as their employees are considered essential. An inside source said that Starbuck's Canada will be providing their employees with bandana's and scarfs purchased from Dollorama. This will become mandatory for all employees starting tomorrow, following the example from Starbucks in the United States. Center for Disease Control or Health Canada approved face masks will be prohibited to be worn by employees. The goal of this is to protect Starbucks image and possible controversy from the public, which may accuse the American Corporation of diverting essential medical supplies (face masks) for their employees, which would be better served for health care workers and emergency services.
Starbucks Canada will be following the CDC protocol for making face masks, instead of following the Health Canada guidelines. According to Health Canada however, homemade face masks have been proven to be an ineffective and somewhat worst method of protect against Coronavirus:
Homemade masks are not medical devices and consequently are not regulated, like medical masks and respirators. Their use poses a number of limitations:
they have not been tested to recognized standards
they may not provide complete protection against virus-sized particles
the edges are not designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth
the fabrics are not the same as used in surgical masks or respirators
they can be difficult to breathe through and can prevent you from getting the required amount of oxygen needed by your body
they may require frequent adjustment, increasing the amount of times your hands come into contact with your face and increasing the probability of infection
The Public Health Agency of Canada guidance on preventing coronavirus includes guidance on wearing masks, if necessary, and includes the following:
If you are a healthy individual, the use of a mask is not recommended for preventing the spread of COVID-19
Wearing a mask when you are not ill may give a false sense of security
There is a potential risk of infection with improper mask use and disposal
They also need to be changed frequently
However, your health care provider may recommend you wear a mask if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 while you are seeking or waiting for care. In this instance, masks are an appropriate part of infection prevention and control measures. The mask acts as a barrier and helps stop the tiny droplets from spreading you when you cough or sneeze.
This new Starbucks protocol comes into affect tomorrow across Canada and is expected to spark controversy for the coffee chain. The question ultimately boils down to this: would you eat or drink from a facility where their employees are wearing face masks?