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VICTORIA — British Columbia’s provincial health officer says wearing homemade or non-medical masks may prevent people from spreading droplets that cause COVID-19, but wearing a mask likely does little to protect a person from the virus.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is moving towards supporting more extensive use of masks by people during the pandemic.

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“This is something we’ve been considering as well, knowing what’s been going on around the world,” she said at a news conference.

Henry announced on Wednesday that B.C. has 53 new cases of COVID-19 and one death.

She said there are now 1,066 cases of COVID-19 in the province and 25 deaths, while 606 people have recovered.

Canadian public health officials, including Henry, have previously said people who are feeling well do not need to wear masks in public.

Henry said practising physical distancing, frequent hand washing and resisting touching your face are the proven methods to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus.