Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he now wears a face mask in public when social distancing is not possible, as health authorities urged everyone in the country to do the same, AFP reported.

But officials emphasised that wearing masks should not become an excuse to ignore other guidance to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, including frequent hand washing and keeping a distance of two metres from others.

“When it is possible for me to keep two metres distance from people, that is what I prefer to do,” Trudeau told a daily briefing.