Mayor would support civic mask use mandate extension

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This article was published 15/02/2022 (1045 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman says he’d like to see the City of Winnipeg’s face mask mandate continue, even after provincial law no longer requires it.

While the province has announced its public health order that masks be worn in indoor public places will end March 15, the mayor told reporters Wednesday he’d like the practice to continue at municipal sites to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“It’s one way in which we can mitigate risk for the residents and our staff in facilities and Transit buses. It’s something that is very actively being looked at right now by our public service and one that I would certainly support, just out of an abundance of caution, for the foreseeable future,” Bowman said.

The mayor noted an official municipal decision on the mask requirement has yet to be made.

The city was early to impose a mask mandate, adding one before the provincial mandate kicked in.

The municipal rules require facial coverings to be worn on Winnipeg Transit buses and within indoor city facilities, such as city hall, recreation centres, libraries and arenas. It took effect Aug. 29, 2020.

“We have, in the past, gone above and beyond when it came to masks,” said Bowman.

Overall, the mayor stressed the city’s pandemic response decisions remain largely guided by Manitoba Health advice.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga