I've been getting a lot of questions on social media about our decision to use @awrestaurants, @McDonaldsCanada & @TimHortons to help distribute 20million non-medical masks, free of charge to Albertans. Thank you for your questions. I hope the thread helps to answer them. 1/12

Mail: Sending masks by mail is costly (several million dollars) and would require significant government resources and staff to check addresses and determine most in need. For larger households, mail becomes very expensive for oversized packages (ie16 masks for four people). 2/12

Mail continued: Significant government resources would be needed to remove the masks from the shipping boxes, pack, label & mail them. A&W, McDonald's, & Tim Hortons are generously donating staff & time to help package the masks into groups of 4 at zero cost to government. 3/12

Pharmacies: Our pharmacies have been extremely busy responding to #COVID19AB. There was a concern around over-burdening pharmacies and their ability to split time between helping patients with their prescription needs and distributing & packaging masks. 4/12

Pharmacies continued: Government had no ability to require pharmacies to participate. Each pharmacy keeps different hours, with varying locations throughout the province. There was also a concern with in-person lines & the ability to maintain social distance. 5/12

Distribution Centres: Would take significant government resources to acquire, staff and run these centres for 4.3million people across the province. They can also create long in-person lines or waits, which may discourage physical distancing and people from picking up masks. 6/12

@awrestaurants, @McDonaldsCanada, @TimHortons are generously donating staff, time and resources to help get masks to Albertans in need, including 7/12

We are working on alternatives for communities that do not have easy access to a drive-thru, including small municipalities, First Nations communities, Metis Settlements, and local agencies. 8/12

And we are still distributing to seniors lodges, shelters, and we are working with Meals on Wheels to get these masks to seniors that are independent with low mobility. 9/12

If you are unable to pick-up a non-medical mask in-person, please call Alberta 211. Mail delivery will be available on a case-by-case basis, but only for those unable to arrange mask pick up. 10/12

Distribution is on the honour system. Those able to acquire masks on their own should continue to do so. As we've seen throughout the #COVID19AB pandemic, we can trust Albertans to do the right thing. 11/12

This approach strikes the right balance to help get the masks to the public as quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively as possible.

I am incredibly grateful to the response from leaders in government, public, & private sectors. Thank you. 12/12 https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=71469CBC1BF0F-EF94-B660-C2BFCCB26FA6034C