Skip to content

Okotoks councillor pleased Province decides on masking

Foothills School division requiring students to wear masks
NEWS-Mask Bylaw BWC 5086 web
Albertans had to wear masks in indoor public places as of Sept. 4. (Wheel file photo)

The deputy mayor of Okotoks is pleased the issue of masking in all indoor public places can be scratched from its the Sept. 13 town council agenda. 

“I don’t think this issue should be political, I don’t think it should be decided by politicians,” said Deputy Mayor Florence Christophers. “I think our medical leaders should be deciding when to mask and when to unmask. 

“I am glad Alberta Health Service and Dr. Deena Hinshaw and the Province that is overseeing our health system is keeping an eye on this and saying: ‘Hey these (COVID-19) numbers are spiking let’s go back to wearing masks.”

Premier Jason Kenney announced on Sept. 3 that all masks must be worn in all indoor public facilities effective Sept. 4. Employees must wear masks except while working alone in work stations. As well, restaurants and bars will not be allowed to serve alcohol after 10 p.m. 

However, Kenney did not make wearing masks at schools mandatory.   The announcement comes approximately two months after Kenney announced his Open For Summer program, which eliminated many COVID restrictions.

Kenney said on Sept. 3, the spike in COVID cases is due to the Delta variant and people not getting vaccinated. He announced that 70 per cent of Albertans, those over the age of 12, have received both required jabs in the arm. Nearly 80 per cent have received one shot. 

He said overall unvaccinated people have made up 80 per cent of hospitalizations from COVID since July 1. He said on Sept. 1 there were 114 people in intensive care in the province, over 91 per cent of  those were individuals who were unvaccinated.

“The bottom line is four out five of Alberta adults have protected themselves and helped reduced transmission by getting vaccinated,” Kenney said. “But one out of five Alberta adults have not and their choices are now jeopardizing our health care system.... If you are unvaccinated, it is urgent that you protect yourself, our hospital and our entire community of getting this miracle of modern medicine as soon as possible.”

The government is now offering a $100 gift card incentive to individuals who receive a first or second vaccination. 

“Since July 1, unvaccinated people between the ages of 20 to 59 have had 50 to 60 times higher risk of hospitalization than those who are vaccinated,” Kenney said. 

Dr. Adam Vyse, a doctor in High River and a member of the Calgary Rural Primary Care Network, called the decision to wear masks again a wise decision.

“Our management of pandemic knowledge says having public restrictions like wearing masks in indoor situation reduces transmission rates,” Vyse said. “When the prevalence of COVID in the community is high, you need to have public health restriction like that.

“It’s a no-brainer.

“The case numbers right now are shockingly high, and we are probably two weeks late in starting them again.” 

According to Alberta Health Services statistics on Sept. 3, there were 71 cases of COVID in Okotoks. There were 25 in High River and 65 in Foothills County, which includes Black Diamond and Turner Valley.

The town of Okotoks previously had a masking bylaw in place that would be triggered once the community reached 15 cases. 

A decision on masking was on the upcoming Sept. 13 council meeting agenda, in response to public concerns about rising COVID cases raised by members of the community at an Aug. 16 meeting. 

Christophers is glad council does not have to make a decision. 

“I think it is unfair to municipalities,” Christophers said. “This is a medical issue and it should be decided by the experts.”

Schools

Students in the Foothills School Division were required to wear masks when they went back to school on Sept. 7, despite no specific mandate from the province.  

Chris Fuzessy, Foothills School Division superintendent of schools, said following public guidelines as set by Alberta Health Services was a natural fit when making the decision for required masking later that afternoon. 

“There is a mask mandate indoors for all public spaces across Alberta,” Fuzessy said on Sept. 3. “We are a public school system. We didn’t see how by not aligning with that mandate in a public space made sense.

“We consider ourselves to be a public place.”

Foothills school students were not required to wear masks to school for the first three days of school, Sept. 1-3.

Masks will not be required for students participating in athletic events, such as school sports. However, coaches, spectators and officials will be required to wear masks at indoor events.

Vyse agreed with the decision. 

“At this stage it is a really good plan,” Vyse said. “Our community transition rate is high and there is bound to be kids coming to school without any symptoms.

“Minimizing transmission by wearing masks in school is a really good idea.”

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools stated on its website on Sept. 6 it is continuing to monitor the situation. It is following the direction of Dr. Hinshaw not to make student and teacher masking mandatory. 

“As a result, students, staff, and substitutes in CTR may continue to make their own decisions about mask use. We expect many will choose to wear masks,” said the web statement.

“We encourage and support those who make the decision to wear masks.”

CTR Catholic students are required to wear masks on school buses. 

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks