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
Mayor Ted Clugston hoped for six months that the public’s adherence to coronavirus guidance would keep infections from rising in Medicine Hat, he told reporters late Monday.
But he’s now contemplating his support for a local mask bylaw that he often argued might not be needed.
A majority of councillors on Monday asked the city’s communication department to begin an information campaign to ask Hatters to follow health guidelines from the province.
If rising numbers of local infections don’t reverse however, a majority of councillors said a mask bylaw could be debated early next month.
“We’ve got a very stern report that things might change here in Medicine Hat, and that’s unfortunate,” he said after city emergency director Merrick Brown updated council on elevated and still rising local infections.
They place Medicine Hat in the range of other Alberta cities where the province has halted youth sports leagues and brought in altered operating rules for bars, fitness facilities.
“Lockdowns are the last, last resort and whatever we can do to stop that is in the minds of council.
“It comes down personal responsibility, and please, please try to limit their social contacts.
“There’s no way that a city bylaw can tell people to wear masks in people’s houses.”
Coun. Jamie McIntosh told council that citizens are looking to it for guidance on masks, and Kris Samraj directed staff to get the message out.
“We’re trying to save people’s lives and we want to exhaust every option (before a mask bylaw),” said Samraj.
City communications staff told the News on Tuesday that they are developing a campaign that could debut later this week.
Two new cases were added to local numbers at Tuesday’s provincial update. Combined with one recovery, that brings active cases to 51.
That puts Medicine Hat’s infection rate per 100,000 residents at about 75, whereas 50 is the trigger point for greater restrictions.
Council members said that, without a reversal of rising local infection rates, a potential mask bylaw could be debated when council next meets on Dec. 7. That is 19 days from Wednesday.
Brown told council that Hatters have the ability to limit exposures and therefore limit the spread.
“We can do it; we’ve done it before,” said Brown, while saying mask use can be difficult to implement.
“I don’t want to force someone to do something. I’d much rather have individuals take it upon themselves, take ownership, because that’s where we’ll have longevity.”
Coun. Robert Dumanowski said council should be ready to act if the message doesn’t resonate widely enough.
“We (council) have had a significant conversation about this,” he said.
“We’ve shown leadership before … when the province has been unwilling to do it on their own.
“But, if you’ve been on the fence, now’s the time to make a significant effort to do your part and add some responsibility for your family and bubble.”
Coun. Julie Friesen said a bylaw could follow other cities’ bylaws and could be enacted quickly.
“I’m concerned that we might be too late with a mask bylaw,” she said. “In two weeks and we’re still seeing increased numbers, I’ll be with Coun. McIntosh in wanting to see that bylaw.”
Region dons masks
Masks were mandatory in rural municipalities across Saskatchewan, including the southwest quadrant, health authorities announced on Tuesday.
Previously the measure only applied to municipalities with populations larger than 5,000.
Elected officials in Redcliff told Alberta Newspaper reporters there are no current plans to discuss a local bylaw.
A new statewide mask mandate was imposed in Montana on Tuesday, regardless of local levels in the state that reported 1,500 cases that day. In Hill County, surrounding Havre, another five deaths since Sunday brought the death toll to 25 in the county of 16,000 that now has 326 active cases.
