Grey Bruce’s medical officer of health plans to extend the order mandating mask or face covering use — with some exceptions — at indoor public spaces in the two counties.
Dr. Ian Arra says the order will be renewed another four weeks (from Friday, Sept. 11) as municipalities continue to work through the process of introducing their own mask-use bylaws.
The MOH order requires all commercial establishments in Grey Bruce to make the best effort (verbal) to restrict persons from entering the premises or remaining within the premises if not wearing a face covering, although turning away or refusing a customer is not required.
According to Arra, mask use bylaws are likely to come at the county level in Grey Bruce. He notes both Grey and Bruce counties’ councils have asked their staff to consider drafting one for debate and says he’s been involved as an advisor to provide the content for such a bylaw.
“The umbrella solution to have the (counties) pass such bylaw will ensure consistency, so citizens don’t have to have different expectations in different municipalities. Rather, in both counties it will be the same content,” explains Arra.
The mask order has been in place since July 17, when Grey Bruce entered Stage 3 of the province’s re-opening framework.
It applies to anyone over the age of two, although children under the age of five are exempt as well if “he or she refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their parent, guardian or caregiver.”
According to a past Bayshore Broadcasting report, there are also exemptions for medical purposes, or simply for those who feel “wearing a face covering would inhibit the person’s ability to breathe in any way.”
There is no need for a medical note to not wear a face covering.
As for how long you can expect to continue to be required to wear a mask or face covering for visits to the grocery store or other retailers, Arra says the intervention is a temporary measure until Covid herd immunity is reached, preferably through a vaccine.
“I’m cautiously optimistic we’re going to have a vaccine that is safe and effective by the end of this year, early next year. And then it might take three to six months for mass distribution and to have it in practice in the community,” Arra says. “At that time, there will be no need for mask use.”
Arra notes Public Health has observed there is “optimal compliance” in Grey Bruce to this point with the mask/face covering order.
“You can see it anecdotally anytime you walk in a grocery store: the number of people who wear a mask are way more than the people who don’t,” says Arra. “That really speaks to the fact that our (residents) have been informed, engaged and concerned.”
The order by Dr. Arra is issued through authority under section 22 of The Health Protection and Promotion Act. It grants broad powers to medical officers of health to issue orders that may require a person to take or to refrain from taking any action that is specified in respect of a communicable disease.