Dr. Theresa Tam says wearing a mask in public depends on what's happening in your community

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says whether you should be wearing a mask in public depends on what's happening in your community and what you're doing.

She says masks are beneficial in areas with community transmission of COVID-19, and in areas where it's difficult to stay away from others.

That includes in certain stores and on public transit. But she says mandatory mask rules could disadvantage vulnerable people who can't afford or get access to one.

"Canada will use a newly-approved antibody test"

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada will use a newly-approved antibody test for COVID-19 to study how many people in the country have contracted the viral disease.

She says it's premature to use the test to determine whether someone is immune to the virus, because not enough is known about how effective the natural antibodies are.

Dr. Theresa Tam says people should not delay seeking health care

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says people should not delay seeking health care if they need it.

She says if people avoid getting urgently needed help it can lead to an immediate increase in deaths, while people putting off appointments related to chronic illnesses can lead to worse outcomes in the long run.

She says people should also keep up with their vaccinations to prevent other preventable disease outbreaks.