Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro announces Friday the province will be distributing masks to resident.

By Alex McCuaig

Province to distribute masks

Province to distribute 20-million masks to Albertans

May 29, 2020 | 10:29 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government will be providing 20 million non-medical masks to residents of the province, Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced Friday morning while hinting at an expansion of asymptomatic testing, details to be released later today.

Shandro says the process for distributing masks that each resident will be entitled to four of will begin, “as we speak.”

The three-layer, single-use masks will be distributed through A&W, McDonalds and Tim Horton drive-thrus starting in early June, Shandro said.

But he added the supply of masks isn’t boundless and encouraged Albertans to continue to source masks through retail outlets as, “we cannot provide Albertans unlimited masks.”

The cost for the masks will cost taxpayers a little less than $20 million while the price tag for distribution has been pegged at $350,000.

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Shandro says Albertans should expected an announcement this afternoon during Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s update about expanded testing for asymptomatic residents of the province.

Asked about the possibility of residents taking more than their allotment of masks, Shandro said distribution is on the honour system and, “Albertans can be trusted.”

Alberta has conducted a quarter-of-a-million COVID-19 tests since the pandemic began.