City’s ‘near normal’ will follow province

By COLLIN GALLANT on June 24, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

With one week until almost all pandemic restrictions are lifted in Alberta, city officials say July 1 will look like ‘near normal’ but are not yet sure what that looks like.

During his bi-weekly update to Medicine Hat city council on the COVID-19 pandemic, head of emergency management Merrick Brown, said that after 16 months of high-level precautions, July will feel much like February 2020.

But, he stressed, citizens will have varying levels of comfort, city facilities may not yet be operating as normal, and Hatters should be considerate and perhaps even expect a return of some restrictions in the future.

“I’ve been surprised many, many times during this pandemic and I’m excited but I’m still cautious at the same time,” said Brown.

“We’ll see almost no restrictions … it’s now up to personal responsibility, (vaccines) are our protection – the province has made that very, very clear.”

Support for vaccinations and understanding was echoed by several councillors who spoke during the presentation, and by Mayor Ted Clugston in post-meeting comments to the media.

“There are people who are afraid of this virus for whatever reason, fully vaccinated people who are afraid,” said Clugston. “You have to respect that fear. Health Authorities have spent 18 or 19 months drumming up this fear. It’s going to take a while for it to go away.”

Other council members said Hatters may have trouble navigating social interactions, but manners could persevere.

“I feel a lot of turbulence may happen,” said Coun. Darren Hirsch. “My plea would be ‘please, still be neighbourly to each other.'”

Alberta’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, clarified Tuesday that masks would still be required in all modes of public transit, taxis and ride-sharing services. Masks are also required in extended care facilities, and isolation protocols for those positively diagnosed with the disease will stay in place.

As for legal standards for behaviour, Brown said, most will be gone.

“Technically we don’t have to wear a mask, have indoor social gatherings or physically distance,” he said. “Individuals still have a choice to be cautious … and all of us need to respect that, and the same goes for businesses.”

“The virus will still be here and we need to be cautious and respect each other through this process.”

Clugston says the city’s position is to defer to the province on health matters, and that means local measures, such as local mask bylaws and other matters aren’t likely.

“I know some municipalities are talking about extending them, but we are not going to wade into health-care issues – that’s a provincial issue,” he said.

The city’s local mask bylaw was allowed to expire in March at a set date included when it was instituted as a special meeting of council in early December.

At the same time on Monday, Calgary city council members debated if and when that city’s local mask bylaw should be rescinded. Eventually the matter was tabled under July 5 as administrators were asked to bring back more information from the province.

The city has not released any information about its own recreation and cultural facilities pertaining to the change in allowable capacity at pools, theatres and indoor fitness classes and events.

“We are trying to ramp up very, very quick – we know that for people it’s never fast enough,” said Clugston.

“It’s my hope that we’re as back to normal next week as possible.”

The Medicine Hat Stampede will host Canada Day festivities at its grounds in Crestwood throughout July 1 and promises a fireworks display to conclude the day.

Medicine Hat police are also expected to provide a statement on public behaviour gong forward, perhaps later this week.