A digital sign displays advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 outside Revolution Place in Grande Prairie, Alta Saturday, August 29, 2020 This is part of an information campaign jointly funded by the City and County of Grande Prairie
PETER SHOKEIR / DAILY HERALD-TRIBUNE
The city of Grande Prairie now needs masks and masks in indoor spaces as its mask regulation has reached the trigger point of more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 between the city and the county
This is the first time the settlement has been triggered on Monday, the city had 91 active cases and the county had 15 active cases for a total of 106 active cases in the two municipalities
« I expect the residents of Grande Prairie and the residents of the area to take this as a wake-up call that while we have done fairly well over the past few months, we are not immune to the coronavirus in this region and we all need to be more diligent, ”said Mayor Bill Given
City says law enforcement will take « an education-driven approach » to encourage complianceHowever, any resident who does not comply could face a $ 100 fine
The mayor noted how part of the community expressed « truly discredited views » on COVID-19, and Grande Prairie was no different than any other place in the world when it comes to disinformation
« I also think the vast majority of residents understand that there is a real risk to health and that we all need to work together to make sure that we slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community, » said Given
« I know there are loud voices on social media, but I am confident the vast majority of residents will comply without ever needing to be interviewed »
He added that fines are rarely imposed for not wearing a mask in other municipalities with similar regulations
Masks or face masks will no longer be needed once the city and county falls below the trigger point for 14 calendar days
Schools, hospitals or other health care facilities are excluded from the regulation and must follow the guidelines provided by provincial authorities
In addition, persons working in buildings accessible only to employees, such as private offices and meeting rooms, as well as drivers of public vehicles separated by physical barriers or distances are not required to wear a mask or a mask
Businesses are also required to display a city-created sign in a location visible to a person entering the public square or vehicle when the trigger point is reached
Passed by city council on September 8, the settlement is triggered either by a combined total number of active cases of 100 in the city and county, or by an « improved » provincial revival status in one or the other ‘other of the municipalities
A list of exemptions and guidelines on how to wear masks safely is available on the city’s website
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