Masque ou couvre-visage /2

Dans mon billet du 27 juillet, j’ai remis en cause la fiche « couvre-visage » du Grand Dictionnaire terminologique (GDT) de l’Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). J’ai noté qu’il était impropre d’utiliser le terme couvre-visage pour une pièce de tissu qui ne couvrait pas tout le visage mais seulement le nez et la bouche. Le GDT a une fiche « mask = masque » et une autre « face covering = couvre-visage », sans renvoi d’une fiche à l’autre et sans explication claire de la différence entre les deux. Cette question n’a cessé depuis de me turlupiner et j’ai finalement trouvé l’explication que le GDT n’a pas voulu donner clairement.

Cette explication, je l’ai trouvée en écoutant la BBC, chose que je n’avais pas faite depuis plusieurs semaines. J’ai constaté qu’à la BBC on utilise beaucoup plus fréquemment face covering que mask. J’ai voulu savoir pourquoi. La réponse est très simple : le gouvernement britannique craint une pénurie de masques chirurgicaux pour le personnel médical de première ligne et encourage donc les simples citoyens à utiliser des masques non chirurgicaux. D’où la différence faite entre mask et face covering. Sur le site d’une pharmacie britannique on peut lire : « A “face covering” can be worn by the general public as opposed to face masks worn by healthcare and other at-risk workers ». Cette distinction a été servilement reprise par Termium (bases de données linguistiques du gouvernement fédéral à Ottawa) et par le GDT sans qu’on en montre l’utilité au Canada. Sauf sans doute pour ceux qui prônent le port du niqab, comme le révèle cette réponse du ministère de la Santé du Québec publiée sur le site de la CBC :

Do religious face coverings count as masks? Your COVID-19 questions answered

In an email from Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services, spokesperson Marjorie Larouche said that "a person who wears a religious sign made of fitted fabric that covers the nose and mouth does not have to wear an additional mask or face covering."

A niqab is considered a face covering if it covers the nose and mouth, Larouche said. But in the case of a hijab, which doesn't give the same coverage, it "cannot be considered as protection," she said.

Documents

Site Express.co.uk:

What is the difference between face coverings and face masks?

A face covering simply refers to using any type of fabric or material to cover your face, whereas a face mask, typically, is professionally manufactured, such as the the ones used in healthcare.

Face coverings can be made at home using common household items, such as an old T-shirt or bedding.

The government advise reads: "A cloth face covering should cover your mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably.

[…]

The government has advised people to use face coverings instead of face masks, to make sure frontline workers still have access to them.

A statement read: "Face coverings are not the same as face masks.

"It is important that people do not use medical-grade PPE masks to ensure these remain available for frontline staff."

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in Europe, there has been seen an overwhelming surge of international demand for PPE, which in turn has thrown up a number of issues including shortages, or poor-quality equipment failing tests.

Pharmacie Lloyds:

What is the difference between a face mask and a face covering?

Approved by our clinical team | Jul 08, 2020

“Face covering” is the term being used by the UK government to describe a piece of material that can be secured around the face to cover the nose and mouth. A “face covering” can be worn by the general public as opposed to face masks worn by healthcare and other at-risk workers. A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in industrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.

In short, “face covering” is a general term that might apply to any of the following:

·         Scarf

·         Bandana

·         Homemade mask

·         Shop-bought disposable or reusable mask 

A covering will be suitable if it can tie comfortably around your head, cover your nose and mouth, and allow you to breathe easily.