Mandatory masks to be required in indoor public spaces on Aug 1
Posted Jul 21, 2020 8:27 pm.
Last Updated Jul 22, 2020 6:24 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Calgary city council has approved a bylaw to make wearing masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces starting August 1.
Council voted 12-3 in favour of the bylaw on Tuesday.
Councillors Sean Chu, Jeromy Farkas and Joe Magliocca were the opposing members.
RELATED: Council debates mandatory masks on Calgary Transit
The bylaw applies to public spaces or public vehicles if people can’t be separated by a shield or barrier. Public vehicles include LRT, buses, and taxis.
Signs would have to be posted at stores, shopping centres and city-owned recreation facilities to provide the public with a warning that a mask is required.
Schools and daycares are not covered by the bylaw.
Children under the age of two, people with underlying medical conditions or disabilities are not required to wear face-coverings or for those unable to place, use or remove a face covering safely.
As of Thursday, the Calgary zone had 589 active COVID-19 cases out of the 1,193 province-wide.
“I believe we are in our second wave,” Tom Sampson, Calgary Emergency Management Agency Chief, told city councillors.
“We are unfortunately leading the province in terms of numbers and we are, unfortunately, as a province, experiencing a lot of cases proportionately.”
The bylaw requires people to wear a mask that covers their mouth, nose and chin.
Certain amendments to the bylaw are expected to be made on Monday.
