Wearing a mask or face covering is going to be mandatory at any enclosed public space in Grey Bruce soon.
The region’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra has given notice he intends to issue an order mandating mask or face covering use at indoor spaces sometime within the next 10 days. Arra couldn’t provide the exact date yet as consultations with stakeholders are still ongoing.
“Public Health has been in ongoing discussion with stakeholders in respect to the details and language of the order,” a release from the Grey Bruce Health Unit explains. “This will ensure the order is appropriate and proportionate to the local needs and that it can be implemented in a manner that is practical, equitable, and does not infringe on the rights of people who cannot tolerate facial covering due to medical conditions.”
Arra says the order would apply to any indoor public space, but would carry flexibility to allow employers to assess their need and implement it as they see fit.
“It would be areas of a business or facility where there is interaction among people, especially if there is inability to implement two metres of physical distancing,” Arra explains. “Anyone in a facility where someone is alone in their office, for example, there will be no mandate for it.”
The looming mask or face covering mandate will apply at all indoor facilities in Grey Bruce, including places such as retail stores and churches, and comes even as the region’s new COVID-19 case data continues to show positive signs almost one month into entering Stage 2 of the province’s re-opening plan.
As of Tuesday, there are only two active known cases of the virus according to the Grey Bruce Health Unit
Arra acknowledges while the epidemiological data hasn’t really changed in Grey Bruce since Stage 2 of re-opening, there are other considerations such as compliance data. He says there is fatigue showing among people with public health advice such as physical distancing.
“If there was an increase in epidemiology it would justify the intervention 100 per cent. But, that’s not the only metric,” Arra explains. “We’re heading into the third stage, we’ve heard indication that it’s coming very soon. And this will be an added layer to it.”
“At the end of the day,” continues Arra, “if we manage to increase the habit of mask use until the emergency is over, until we get a vaccine, until we reach herd immunity — that would be optimal.”
Arra says with more re-opening coming we’re going to see potential increased risk and there is no need to wait until the last minute when there is actually an outbreak to try to prevent it.
Grey Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health expects the order will likely remain in place for six to eight weeks, but a mask mandate at indoor settings could be the new reality for a longer term. He says the order is designed to buy some time for municipalities to develop by-laws for mask or face covering use.
He says by-laws could come from individual municipalities, or from the two upper-tier governments at the county level in Grey Bruce.
When it comes to research concerning mask or face covering use, Arra says there is “weak to moderate” evidence that applies to public use that is mostly anecdotal with some observation studies, but not clinical trials.
“This evidence would say there is effectiveness when it is used in a widespread way in the community, that is around 5 to 12 per cent effectiveness,” explains Arra. “It’s not high. Using a mask is not a silver bullet.”
“Physical distancing is very effective, way more effective,” continues Arra. “In the hierarchy of efficacy, a mask is not at the top. However, preventing five to 12 per cent of infections if people wear the mask, that’s not a bad outcome.”
Arra stresses it remains important to remember the use of a mask or face covering does not replace effective practices of physical distancing, handwashing and screening for symptoms among others.
“A face covering should be used in combination with these practices to break the chain of transmission of the virus,” he reminds.
As many other health units in the province have also moved to mandate mask or face covering use at indoor spaces, Arra says it’s also important for consistency to make it “much more manageable for people to know it’s mandated” similar to other areas.
“There is a really different need in each health unit,” says Arra. “However, this virus does not respect boundaries. So, if there is an outbreak in one of the health units or higher numbers, there is no way to say this is not going to affect us one way or another.”
In addition exempting people with medical conditions from wearing a mask, Arra says the order will also have an exemption built in for those who can’t wear one for faith based reasons.
In circumstances where an individual would be exempt, Arra says a medical note would not be required, only a declaration from the person.
Arra notes there have been increased requests from citizens and businesses to mandate mask or face covering use.
Grey Bruce’s top doctor says Public Health doesn’t plan “to have heavy enforcement” behind the mask order, rather a policy based on “good faith” and “civil duty”.
”The virus is not going to get tired,” Arra adds. “We get tired of measures, but the virus is not.”