(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge now mandating face masks in city-owned and operated indoor facilities

Aug 7, 2020 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – If you plan on entering any publicly-accessible indoor spaces owned or operated by the City of Lethbridge, bring your face mask.

“The goal, obviously, is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we’re introducing mandatory face coverings at our facilities and we’re hoping that’ll do that,” says Recreation and Culture Manager Robin Harper.” We also know that this isn’t going to go away in the short term, so making face coverings the new social norm will only help us in the months ahead.”

Effective Friday, August 7, the use of non-medical face masks or other face coverings are now required.

These facilities include:

• City Hall
• Galt Museum
• Fort Whoop-Up
• Helen Schuler Nature Centre
• Lethbridge Regional Park ‘n’ Ride Transit Terminal
• Lethbridge Airport Terminal
• Lethbridge Public Library (Downtown and Crossings branches)
• Ice arenas

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Generally, this applies to all staff and customers at these facilities, but there are some exceptions, including:

• Children under age two
• People who are unable to wear face coverings due to protected grounds under the Human Rights Act
• People who are unable to place, use, or remove face coverings safely without assistance
• People who are eating or drinking at designated areas
• People engaging in a fitness or athletic activity
• People who are caregiving for someone with a disability were wearing a face mask would impede their ability to take care of the person

As far as fitness facilities, masks will only be required in common areas such as the front desk or foyer. Once you enter the fitness area itself, such as a weight room or swimming pool, the mask will no longer be required.

The city will provide a limited number of disposable masks at each location but it is recommended that you bring your own if you can.

Mask mandates could spread further as the local government is working with other facility operators to implement their own rules. Some examples of this include CASA, the Lethbridge Animal Shelter, the Multicultural Centre, the Cor Van Raay YMCA, and other swimming pools.

The public is asked to check with these facilities about mask regulations before attending.

At this time, there are no penalties for violating the mask mandates as Harper says they want to focus more on educating the public about the importance of wearing masks. It is possible that the city could pass a bylaw that would include penalties.

Earlier this week, Lethbridge Transit began requiring face masks or other face coverings.

A draft bylaw is expected to be debated at the August 10 city council meeting that could see masks become mandatory across the entire city.