The mayor says he welcomes all opinions regarding a possible mask bylaw, including those of two local physicians on opposite sides of the debate.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
City council has discussed the potential of a local mask bylaw to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but hasn’t settled on what conditions might spur action, Mayor Ted Clugston told reporters on Tuesday.
“For now we’re holding off,” said Clugston, who said council members discussed the particulars of how a bylaw could work in closed session prior to Monday’s open regular council meeting.
“It’s perhaps a tool we could use if a problem becomes evident in Medicine Hat, but what’s happened here in Medicine Hat is that residents are behaving for the most part and we have some of the lowest (case) numbers.
“We’ll continue to take a wait-and-see approach.”
Clugston and city emergency management director Merrick Brown reiterated that requests to maintain social distance and good hygiene practices appear to be working.
The mayor estimated that up to 70 per cent of Hatters are voluntarily wearing masks, but said he would prefer not to mandate their use, citing health as a matter of provincial jurisdiction.
Medicine Hat’s stance hasn’t changed despite the number of municipalities in Alberta that are bringing in localized legislation is growing.
Calgary and Edmonton both have requirements to where face coverings in indoor spaces.
On Monday the Town of Okotoks passed a bylaw mandating that masks be worn in municipal facilities, such as rec centres and other civic buildings, but would expand if local cases rise.
The measure would be extended to all indoor public buildings, including private businesses if the number of local cases rises above 15. That would remain in place until the number drops below that level for 30 consecutive days.
Red Deer council is debating a similar measure with the trigger point set at 25 local cases in that city of 100,000.
Lethbridge requires masks as standard only in city-owned facilities, including transit buses, and St. Albert has a municipal building requirement that’s extended to retail and restaurant locations.
Banff, Canmore and Jasper also have mask bylaws as a way to control the spread among crowds of tourists.
Businesses are often considered “public” buildings in legislation that often uses public access as a definition.
A total of 67 cases of the respiratory illness have been confirmed in Medicine Hat over five months. Active cases dropped to three as of Tuesday. Two Hatters have died.
Medicine Hat officials only recommend that masks be worn on transit buses.
Clugston told reporters that people should wear a mask if they feel it is needed. And, he stressed that businesses that do or don’t require masks from customers deserve support.
Generally, he said the city continues to operate well during the pandemic.
“The grass is getting cut and the potholes are getting repaired,” he said, also citing major issues such as a council’s passage of finance power plant expansion and ratification of a contract with its largest union on Monday.
“It’s continuing with the business of Medicine Hat,” he said.
Second-wave plan
In a standard update of COVID-related response by the city’s health and safety office, director of emergency management Merrick Brown said his office is reviewing the city’s initial operational response to the pandemic in the spring.
City departments quickly instituted isolation requirements for some employees and developed a flow chart to back fill positions considered essential for the continuation of key public services.
Potential changes will be blended into response plans that will be standing plans for this fall in case of a resurgence of cases in Medicine Hat, said Brown.
“We really took a deep dive into our business continuity plans, and what to do with increased absenteeism,” said Brown.
“Were’ right back thinking about what could be next – I don’t want to say ‘second wave’ but that’s whats on everyone’s mind right now.”
