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Front-line health-care workers in Alberta are raising alarm over recently shipped surgical masks they say aren’t safe to use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Mike Chatenay, a surgeon at Edmonton’s Grey Nuns Community Hospital, said his ward recently received the replacement personal protective equipment (PPE) and it was immediately clear the masks weren’t up to par.

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“When you’re talking to patients, the mask slips down your face and you’re constantly having to readjust it,” Chatenay said. “It obviously defeats the purpose of masks, to keep your hands away from your face. When you have to constantly readjust the mask, it’s putting yourself at risk.”

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the union representing many Alberta health-care workers, echoed the concerns. It said the “shoddy” masks that went out to workers across the province last week potentially put both workers and patients at risk.

“The surgical masks that were sent were definitely different from the usual ones that they send,” said union vice-president Susan Slade.

“They don’t fit around your nose as well, they don’t seal, they actually just fall off sometimes during patient care. . . . There’s skin rash, throat irritation. They’re just not very good-quality masks.”

Steve Buick, the press secretary for Alberta’s health minister, said in a statement that equipment provided by Alberta Health Services is safe.

“AHS is doing a superb job of sourcing PPE. To do so, they’re working with new suppliers, and that includes adjusting products to meet their needs and respond to staff concerns,” Buick said. “All PPE procured by AHS is safe and will protect staff and patients.”

Buick said that regular AHS providers are unable to meet demand for procedure masks, so front-line workers could see 10 or more new brands of masks over the coming weeks.

He added that future AHS shipments from the supplier who shipped the faulty masks would include corrections to the nosepiece and adjustments for a better fit.