City scraps mask mandate for staff

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This article was published 15/06/2022 (827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg has removed the mask mandate for employees, including transit drivers and staff at facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.

Chief administrative officer Michael Jack sent a notice to staff Thursday afternoon.

“In consultation with our emergency management staff, along with our health and safety branch, we are making immediate adjustments to a couple of our health and safety procedures, including rescinding the mandatory mask requirement and moving to a mask recommendation for staff working within city facilities and in city vehicles,” the notice says.

Councillors, including Jeff Browaty, had said it was time to remove the mask mandate for staff.

Members of the public have not been required to wear masks on buses and in city facilities since mid-March.

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 had filed a grievance against the mandate, arguing the mask mandate applied only to staff and not citizens.

“Essentially, we’re saying pick a lane. If we’re going to require masks (for staff indoors), then everyone should have to wear mask. You can’t pick and choose that some have to (when) others don’t mask if (they’re) in close vicinity with other people,” president Gord Delbridge told the Free Press earlier this week.

The city also decided to deactivate its emergency operations centre for COVID-19, the CAO said.

“I want to assure you that will we continue to monitor the latest developments on the COVID-19 front and will not hesitate to reactivate the (operations centre) and adjust operations based on the latest public health advice to keep employees and residents safe,” the notice to staff says.