Manitoba Acting Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwall says people are asking if it’s okay to hand out Valentine’s Day cards.  He explains COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets that come from a person’s throat or lungs when you cough or sneeze and these droplets can fall on surfaces sometimes contaminating that surface, however washing your hands before and after handling and opening the cards as well as avoiding touching your face while handling these materials will reduce the possibility of transmitting COVID-19. He says students need to continue to practice good hygiene while writing and handling the cards and maintaining physical distancing while distributing them and if envelopes are used don’t lick them.  He points out one suggestion for delivering is students provide their cards to the teacher and the teacher does the distribution so lots of people are not handing out cards at the same time.

Atwall again emphasizes the importance of washing your hands before and after handling any cards.