On November 10th, the Town of High Prairie passed a mandatory face covering bylaw. Citizens will be required to wear a face covering when Alberta Health Services confirms COVID-19 cases reach 15 or more in Big Lakes County.
The bylaw requires all people to wear a face covering within an indoor, enclosed or substantially enclosed public space and in any public transportation vehicle.
There are some exemptions from the bylaw:
- persons under nine years of age
- persons who are unable to place, use, or remove face coverings without assistance
- persons providing care or assistance to a person with a disability where a face covering would hinder care-giving or assistance
- persons consuming food or drink in designated seating areas or as part of a religious or spiritual ceremony
- persons engaging in aquatic activities or physical exercise
- persons engaging in services that require the temporary removal of a face covering
The mask bylaw does not apply to schools and other educational facilities, hospitals and health care facilities, childcare facilities and “areas exclusively accessed or used by public places employees, provided that physical barriers or physical distancing practices are implemented between any person not required to wear a face covering under this exemption and any other person.”
All public places must display signage that is visible to a person entering the public place or transportation vehicle when the mask bylaw is triggered to wear a facial covering.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
