Make masks mandatory in indoor spaces Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2020

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/09/2020 (2079 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Knowing the propensity of children to notice unfair treatment, it’s likely some will return home after this first week of school to ask their parents: “Why do kids have to wear masks at school when adults don’t have to wear masks when they go places?”

It’s a reasonable question. And it’s a question that should be answered by Dr. Brent Roussin.

As the chief public health officer, Dr. Roussin has resisted using his authority to make masks mandatory at indoor public gatherings throughout Manitoba. The result is a hodge-podge of confusing mask policies that vary among locations.

Some retail stores, including supermarkets, “require” masks, some “advise” the use of masks and others seem to leave the matter to the whims of customers. The city announced masks are now “mandatory” on city buses, but quickly added the edict is mostly “educational” and won’t be enforced by drivers. As of Tuesday, members of the public entering court facilities in Winnipeg are “required” to wear masks, but employees working in courthouse office areas are only “encouraged” to wear masks.

This muddle about masks is not appreciated by Manitobans, according to a Probe Research Inc. poll released last week that showed 84 per cent of Manitoba support, or strongly support, making masks mandatory in public spaces.

It’s obvious the vast majority of Manitobans understand a mandatory-mask policy is the surest way to slow transmission of the COVID-19 virus, so it’s unsurprising some people express a simmering resentment against the barefaced brigade. Here are three verbatim typical social-media tweets:

“Just passed a very popular ice cream shop in Winnipeg. There were approx 10 people not wearing masks. We should all do our part and wear masks!”

“I’ve been at this store since COVID hit and was shocked at the amount of maskless folks, many in big groups, running around, touching every display. A COVID-19 petri dish to say the least.”

“Am hearing at some of the rinks in the city kids are getting mouthy or worse to arena staff about having to wear a mask. That’s on you, parents. Wake your dumb ass disrespectful kids up.”

In most public situations, Manitobans adopt a live-and-let-live attitude when it comes to the actions of others. We hold our tongues because correcting strangers’ behaviour in public places is an open invitation for conflict that could easily turn angry. Civility depends on people in public minding their own business.

An exception is when someone is hurting other people. For example, we likely don’t intervene if someone is drinking alcohol to excess, but when the drunk person tries to drive his vehicle, we’re inclined to intervene because he could harm other people.

This unwritten rule of social gatherings — don’t challenge strangers unless they’re endangering others — offers context about why some Manitobans resent others who refuse to wear masks. The primary purpose of wearing masks is to protect other people, which means unmasked people in crowded public gatherings may be a danger.

A new public relations campaign by the province urges Manitobans to “Know the Facts” about the pandemic. A fact already understood by Manitobans is that covering faces while in indoor crowds is critical to keeping the virus at bay. What is less understood is why policies about masks remain haphazard.

Dr. Roussin has the authority — and the responsibility — to simplify the perplexing patchwork of rules about masks. Make them mandatory in indoor public spaces. It’s what the public wants and, after all, it’s the public health at risk.