The Mayor believes the Health Unit’s new mask requirement will prepare us for any second wave of COVID-19 cases in the coming months.
The mandatory mask order kicks in next Friday, July 24th and applies to all indoor public spaces, including businesses and workplaces.
Bill Mauro says as the province enters phase three of re-opening and more people are allowed to gather, we should be extra careful.
“We don’t know what kind of a soup we’ll be stepping into in September and October, and there are so many people with health issues that are very worried about this. For those reasons, I think we’re on very sound footing and this is absolutely the right thing to do,” Mauro says.
The Mayor adds he isn’t sure what any second wave would mean for the city and the region.
“I don’t know how significantly that will affect Thunder Bay,” Mauro admits, “That second wave will have a regular flu season in September and October, and asymptomatic people may be walking around with regular flu and not knowing they’re asymptomatic COVID-19 [carriers] as well.”
The mayor previously voted in favour of a City Council motion to ask the province to require masks in certain areas.
