Because Canada stocked up on the masks 13 years ago, the masks don't have that long of a protection period, and it doesn't matter if they're still sealed to.
According to information from Health Canada and Local Health Canada, 77 new cases of coronary pneumonia have been diagnosed in Canada as of the 9th, including 34 in Ontario. In addition, 32 cases have been diagnosed in British Columbia, the first death in Canada, and Ontario has become an important region in the prevention and control of the Canadian epidemic. However, millions of masks for medical personnel in the province have expired, according to official information and documents obtained by Reuters 10.After the SARS outbreak and in response to future outbreaks, 13 years ago in 2007, Ontario and Toronto, the province's largest city, amassed about 55 million N95 masks and other medical equipment. But a December 2017 report by the province's auditor general showed that more than 80 percent of the masks and equipment purchased had expired.
Canada's 55 million N95 masks detailed as expired, Reuters reports millions of Ontario masks have expired ahead of a new viral outbreak. Now when Reuters asked the Ontario Ministry of Health to confirm, the ministry confirmed that the masks had expired and said: ?N95 masks purchased 13 years ago have expired.? Officials with the province's Ministry of Health said the expiration of the masks could greatly diminish their effectiveness, and that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended in the past that expired masks be used only in the following situations: ? Crisis-level shortages ? (extreme shortages).
But authorities have refused to release the latest data on masks, including specific data on expired masks. Authorities have just said that they will continue to work with supply chain partners in order to effectively respond to the new virus pandemic and ensure appropriate supplies (masks and medical facilities). And, they say they have learned from the SARS epidemic and are prepared to deal with a new virus epidemic this time.