The city of Toronto’s recalling 62,600 poor quality surgical masks, distributed to the city’s long-term care homes March 28.

The city’s investigating to determine how many employees were caring for a patient while wearing these masks, and if there was possible exposure to COVID-19.

After reports of ripping and tearing, further inspection of the masks determined they did not meet the city’s standard, and are being returned for a full refund of more than $200,000.

The city’s retrieving its stockpile of surgical masks as a stop-gap measures until a new, appropriate grade mask can be bought.

This makes for a ”significant” shortfall of masks for the city, which has reached out to the province for help.

The recall has prompted the city to undertake a quality control review of its supply chain and all future orders of personal protective equipment (P-P-E) will be subject to heightened scrutiny to ensure they’re up to standards.