Although Algoma Public Health’s policy mandating the wearing of masks when entering local businesses may not have the force of law behind it, it nevertheless seems to be getting the desired effect.
On Friday, the day the policy went into effect, I never saw a person, employee or customer, without a mask on my visits to Tim Horton’s, Canadian Tire, Lyons Timber Mart, Home Depot and Home Hardware, although a couple in Canadian Tire were definitely not happy about it.
“I hate this G– d— mask; I can’t breathe,” the husband said, tugging at the mask
“I hate the G– d— thing too,” the wife said, “but you have to wear it.”
They were still going at it as I moved out of earshot..
On Saturday on a visit to Station Mall, I did see a few people in the hallways of the mall not wearing masks.
As well, this was also the case with the employees in a couple of businesses.
The sign on the doors to the mall says that both customers and employees are to wear a face covering.
However, from what I have seen so far, you couldn’t ask for more in the way of compliance.
I pointed out in my column last week that the policy does not have the force of law behind it so, as APH says itself, businesses will not be forced to turn away people who refuse to wear a mask. However, they can enforce the policy on their own and they seem to be doing so.
From what I have seen over the first couple of days of the policy being in effect, I doubt they will have to do it often.
It seems Saultites are taking to the mask as a normal part of the times we are in, an example I wish some of the centres in the United States would follow.
As of this writing we have only 27 positive cases in the Algoma District, with 25 resolved. Twenty-two of the positive tests have been in the Sault and area. There have been 17,956 tests administered with 16,583 coming out negative. Results are pending on 1,346.
With so many people accepting that the wearing of masks are necessary to keep it that way,
I think we have a far better chance of defeating the virus than they do in the U.S.
I am happy that the U.S.-Canada border is going to remain closed until Aug. 21 because opening the door to American entry to this country could destroy all we have achieved.
Americans at the moment aren’t welcome in Europe or Mexico either and with good reason. Their numbers in regard to those testing positive and deaths are out of sight, by far the worst in the world.
However, I am also happy the border is to remain closed in regard to Canadians as well. I don’t want to see people from our area travelling back and forth over the International Bridge as they did before the coronavirus hit us.
Although Upper Michigan has not been hit as hard as the south, I have no doubt some visitors from this side of the river would pick up the virus and bring it back.
In regard to the wearing of face coverings, although there has been plenty of information offered as to how they work, I am not so sure that everyone got it.
Some still seem to believe that it is to protect the wearer, rather than the other way around.
When you wear a mask you are protecting all those with whom you come in contact. The hope is that they in turn will be wearing a mask to protect you.
To not wear a mask, as far as I am concerned, is to show disrespect to your fellow citizens.
There are some exemptions for people who are unable to wear a face covering but they should at least wear a shield.
I note some in the food industry are using shields instead of masks. I don’t agree with this.
I believe all workers handling food should be required to wear a full face covering to prevent the spread of droplets.
The shields may prevent droplets from coming directly at a customer, but they don’t prevent the droplets from sliding off the shield and onto the food being processed and delivered to the customer.
While APH’s policy in the Sault seems to be having the desired effect, I still would like to see Premier Doug Ford make the wearing of masks mandatory throughout the province as all towns and cities may not take to them as well as the residents of the Sault have.
I believe this is the best way of keeping the virus at Bay throughout the province.
In the main I believe the premier has done a good job in fighting the virus, but to not take this step puts him in league with U.S. President Donald Trump and some Republican governors, who will not take this step even though the virus is cutting a wide swath through the population.
In any event, I think a grand hurrah goes out to the people of the Sault for accepting the wearing of the mask without complaint. It shows a maturity and thought process that seems to be missing in many of our American neighbours, where some even carry weapons to protests in the few areas the wearing of masks has been mandated
I, for one, have health issues that would exempt me from wearing the mask but I wear it in stores anyway.. I’m sure I can stand it for the 15/20 minutes I am in the store and I avoid all the dirty looks.. If I find myself short of breath or feeling faint I move away from others and lift the mask for a few minutes until it passes. Not rocket science… I don’t like the whole mask thing at all, but I don’t make a big deal out of it…
My only comment is the writer, like many Canadians, needs to get help for his TDS.
The states with the worst rates of deaths are run by Democrats. The governors of those states literally sent the elderly to their deaths by forcing old age homes to take back residents who were hospitalized with Covid.
Spoken like a true Republican….LOLOL..
Natural selection at work.
This is why people have a problem with mask because it’s so all over the place with if it’s good or bad or helping! It’s sad to see how much hate it brings out in people on both sides 😭
Meghan DeBastiani face coverings prevent you from spreading it.
My mask protects you. Your mask protects me.
Please wear your mask 😷
Meghan DeBastiani this is correct…a face covering does not stop you from getting, it stops you from giving…others have to wear to protect you from getting covid
Kristopher Burghout again the hate. Never said once that I wasn’t wearing a mask!
Where do you see the hate in his comment ?
“Please wear your mask” is hateful ?
Well sometimes people forget their masks like me jus sayin’ 😊
Indoctrination and assimilation by stealth, using political correctness and obscure laws against us, trying so damn hard to make us feel guilty about voicing opinions of descent. Respect is earned, not dictated by dictators and their communist minions with social “agendas”. Millroy, this is Canada, not a dictatorship. Be advised.
Completely agree. Kudos, Doug.
So Doug, are you going to be wearing your mask untill u r told not to? 🤔
Millroy write about the political agenda China overseeing our Security, that’s worth talking about. Or stay in the sheep pen like the rest of these non scientific believers. No science supports the mask wearing demands. It’s all about control
I mean… You’re free to emigrate whenever you’d like
Barbie Lynn why don’t you explain?
Barbie Lynn can you cite your sources please? All I can find is actual scientific research, but I’m sure your conspiracy theory fb knowledge will convert me from caring about my community.
Don’t forget YouTube, lol!
Barbie Lynn Well said. True to form the mindless drones called Karen and Ken go blah blah blah spouting the newest propaganda. narrative.
Barbie Lynn does the tin foil for your hat come in pretty colours?
Marc Dupuis
please quit spreading false information. the virus has an 8% mortality rate in Canada (7.98018018018018018018018018018)
and a 7% mortality rate in Ontario (7.292191102042979411219163199873)
Nicky Hurshman Nice false stats.
Marc Dupuis I’ve already been through this debate with numerous others before. survival/mortality rate is given based of people who have actually contracted the disease, not the global population regardless of contraction.
and with that information;
If you take the 111,000 cases confirmed in Canada. Then you divide that number by the amount of people that have died in Canada (8,858) and you have your mortality/survival rate.
it’s not false stats or a theory, it’s scientific data that any medical professional (or scientist, or mathematician) will confirm
Same people complaining where the ones who bought up all the toilet paper baby food formula back in March. You like to be controlled
Is that a fact. You’re quite the know-it-all eh.
This headline is disrespectful frankly
Oh my goodness!😭🙏🙏
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