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The announcement that masks will be mandatory in all British Columbia’s indoor public spaces was good news for retailers who have struggled to enforce the use of masks in their stores.
The Retail Council of Canada pushed the province to make face coverings a requirement for weeks.
Director Greg Wilson says it will now be easier for companies to respond to people who refused to wear masks on the grounds that it wasn’t an official rule.
“We can say with 100% certainty that this is no longer the case, that they have to wear a mask and we ask that you wear a mask.”
He is still waiting to know exactly how the order will be executed, but he assumes that the police will be able to issue tickets to those who do not comply.
The order does not apply to those who cannot wear a mask, are unable to wear or remove a mask on their own or for children under the age of two.
Thursday’s announcement that it tightened the rules on wearing masks was a relief for the manager of Bolen Books in Victoria.
“We are thrilled,” said Colin Holt. “It is a real relief for the staff to think that it is now a rule for the province.”
Bolen Books made masks mandatory in its store months ago. Staff faced uncomfortable situations during the summer when five unmasked shoppers refused to leave.
Holt says staff and customers are relieved that they will have a public health order to support the shop’s policy.
‘Better late than never’
In the spring, one of the reasons the province did not enforce the use of the mask was the concern that it would lead to a false sense of security.
“I expect the implementation of physical spacing to underlie the reluctance to have mask order,” acknowledged Wilson.
The Masks4BC group hopes that adding mandatory masks to measures like social distancing, sanitation and collection restrictions will be the final step that will help the province slow the second wave of the pandemic.
Although provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has been saying for weeks that people are expected to wear masks in the home, the group’s spokesperson says making it mandatory was necessary to protect retail workers.
“The initial statement placed the burden on companies to enforce it and in a way took the power out of the hands of small business owners or the local grocery store cashier who confronted someone not wearing a mask and it was categorically anti-mask, “explained family doctor Dr. Anna Wolak.
“It’s a shame it took so long, but better late than never.”
Henry has repeatedly stated that there are some people who cannot medically wear a mask, or others who may not have access to masks.
Wolak agrees that it’s important to be patient with those who don’t wear masks.
“BC has always had a gentle approach to things,” he said. “The hope is that, in addition to this mandate on the mask, we continue to spread the message that you need to be understanding and please don’t get mad at those people who can’t wear a mask.”
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