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The Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw requiring all citizens age 10 and over to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces is in effect to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. This applies to all individuals age 10 and over unless they meet exemption criteria.
The Bylaw will remain in effect until rescinded by Council or until it expires.
If you have any questions or inquiries about the Bylaw, please go to fortreport.ca.
| Exceptions |
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The requirement to wear a face covering will not apply to:
- persons 9 years of age or younger;
- persons who are unable to place, use, or remove a face covering without assistance;
- persons providing care or assistance to a person with a disability where a face covering would hinder that caregiving or assistance;
- persons sitting and consuming food or drink, in an area designated by the City for food or drink consumption, when 2m physical distancing can be maintained from others who are not part of their immediate family or cohort group;
- persons engaging in aquatic activities, intense physical exercise, or an organized sports program;
- persons engaging in services that require the temporary removal of a face covering (e.g., mask fit testing);
- Persons engaging in an organized activity while on the Shell Theatre stage; and
- Persons in areas exclusively accessed or used by City employees or the operators of a Fort Sask Transit vehicle, provided that physical barriers or physical distancing practices are implemented between any person not required to wear a face covering by operation of this exemption and any other person.
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| Facial Covering FAQs |
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If you're question cannot be found here, please send your questions, comments or feedback at fortreport.ca
| Why did the City introduce and implement the Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw? |
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As part of the City of Fort Saskatchewan’s ongoing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep the community safe, City Council passed Bylaw C29-20 on August 4, 2020 making it mandatory to wear facial coverings or masks, in any indoor location where the public has access. The Bylaw became active when Alberta Health Services declared 10 or more active cases in Fort Saskatchewan and will remain in effect until Council passes a resolution to rescind the Bylaw.
To be truly effective, a regional approach is required to ensure public health measures can protect individuals and the community in which they live from the spread of COVID-19. It is still critical to stay home if ill and get tested, practice good hygiene, maintain physical distancing, and cough or sneeze into your elbow.
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| Why did the City revise the Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw C29-20 on October 27, 2020? |
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After the Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw was activated, the City received a number of questions from the public about medical exceptions. The recent revision added an exemption to make medical exemptions clearer in the Bylaw.
Additionally, as the Chief Medical Officer of Health indicated the COVID-19 virus was likely to be with us into 2021, the December 31, 2020 sunset clause was removed.
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Will the Bylaw automatically expire?
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| No, the Bylaw will remain in effect until Council passes a resolution to rescind it. |
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Where do I have to wear a face covering?
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All persons shall wear a face covering at all times while in an indoor, enclosed, or substantially enclosed public place or in any public transportation vehicle.
The Bylaw does not extend to schools, other educational facilities, hospitals, health care facilities, child care facilities as each of these is subject to conditions of operation established by the province.
Areas exclusively accessed by the public place’s employees or operators of a public transportation vehicle provided physical barriers are in place or physical distancing practices are implemented are also exempt.
| ETS & City of Edmonton |
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Will I need a facial covering or mask to be able to transfer onto an ETS bus or LRT?
Edmonton Bylaw 19408 makes wearing masks mandatory when riding a public vehicle. To determine the latest ETS policy, please check the City of Edmonton website.
Will the City of Edmonton provide masks on transit vehicles?
According to the City of Edmonton site, they handed out over 1 million masks as part of the provincial distribution. They are not offering additional masks at this time.
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| Does the Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw cover the hallways and lobbies of condo/apartment buildings? |
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Alberta Public Health Orders referencing mandatory masks in all indoor public spaces and workplaces, include common areas of condominiums and apartment buildings (i.e., hallways, lobbies, parkades, fitness areas, common lounge or game areas, stairways, etc.). When venturing outside of an individual apartment / condominium suite, all persons are required to wear a mask. This interpretation will remain in effect until modified or cancelled by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Should the Public Health Order be repealed, the following interpretation of the Mandatory Face Covering Bylaw will apply:
The new Bylaw does not automatically extend to apartments and condominiums. The Bylaw reads, “All persons shall wear a Face Covering at all times while in an indoor, enclosed, or substantially enclosed Public Place or in any Public Transportation Vehicle.”
- A condo or apartment complex is not open to the public except by invitation (ring a buzzer, or be escorted in) and would not be subject to the Bylaw.
- If owners or tenants wish to see mandatory masks for building common areas, they can request their condo board or apartment superintendent designate or declare that masks would be mandatory in common areas of the complex.
- The condo board or apartment superintendent would not have the authority to extend mandatory masks to include a homeowner’s or renter’s suite.
- There are certain locations that the public might have access to that would fall into the category of publicly accessible and would be subject to the Bylaw (the lobby of a combined residence/commercial property or a common area that does not require resident permission to access).
- We recommend wearing masks in common areas to help promote the health and safety of residents and guests.
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| What is an approved facial covering? |
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An approved face covering includes:
- a commercially produced procedural or medical mask with ear loops or ties;
- a commercially produced and NIOSH approved respirator or equivalent standard approved by the Government of Alberta (e.g., N-95, N-99, P-100, etc.), but excludes a mask with an exhalation valve that does not prevent the exhalation of droplets;
- a mask or other face covering of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric, that covers the mouth, nose and chin of the person wearing it to limit the transmission of respiratory droplets.
For more information, check out CBC’s Market Place that highlights why masks work and what type of facial covering you should look for.
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| How would I know if my mask meets the standards above? |
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Make sure the mask you purchase meets the standards. Refer to the packaging that came with your mask or facial covering and compare it to the Government of Alberta Guide for Masks; OR Follow the directions from the GOA and GOC sites to make a safe, suitable mask.
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| Why can’t I wear a mask with an exhalation valve? |
| Health Canada and other medical experts note that masks with exhalation valves do not prevent droplets from being discharged and therefore don’t offer protection from transmitting a virus. |
| Where can I purchase or obtain a suitable mask? |
| Refer to the City's COVID-19 Resources for Businesses page and look for the heading, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supplies. Many grocery stores, drug stores, and local department stores are now offering masks / facial coverings for sale. |
| Masks are expensive. What options are there? |
| Masks vary greatly in cost, depending on the seller and whether they are reusable or disposable. Reusable masks may have a higher initial cost per mask than disposable masks but can be washed and reused many times. |
| Can a face shield be used as a substitute or a replacement for a mask? |
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A face shield is not a substitute for wearing a face mask as it does not filter respiratory droplets. A face shield may provide some protection for the wearer against droplets expelled from another person, however these droplets may still be inhaled around the shield. Respiratory droplets expelled by the wearer may escape around the sides of the face shield, which therefore provides less protection to others. If you choose to wear a face shield, we recommend - if possible - to wear it in addition to a properly fitted mask. (Ottawa Public Health).
The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of face shields as a “better than nothing” alternative to face masks if there is a shortage of non-medical masks or for populations who are not able to properly wear masks, such as individuals with a respiratory condition that prevents them from wearing a mask. The WHO makes note that face shields are inferior to face masks at preventing the spread of an infection through droplets and at a minimum should extend below the chin and cover the sides of the face. (Ottawa Public Health)
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| If I wear a mask, am I safe from the virus? |
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There is growing evidence that wearing a mask will help prevent you from COVID-19 infection or limit how sick you might become by limiting the amount of virus you are exposed to. More research is required to claim this definitively, but the evidence is mounting.
At the very least, non-medical masks work by protecting others. Think of the saying, “My mask protects you, your mask protects me”. When others wear a mask, they are helping to protect you. When you wear a mask, you are helping to protect them. As more people wear masks, fewer people will be exposed to droplets that may contain a virus.
Remember though, that if a droplet containing the virus settles on a surface and you touch it with your hand, you risk becoming infected unless you wash your hands.
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| Will the City of Fort Saskatchewan provide masks? |
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Anyone attending a City operated property is encouraged to bring their own reusable mask or a disposable mask they’ve purchased.
Coinciding with the introduction of mandatory facial coverings, the City has a limited supply of masks available for those whose mask is soiled, damaged or defective, or if the person forgot or were unaware of mandatory facial coverings. Supplies are limited.
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| If I wear a mask, do I need to stay 2m apart? |
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The Public Health Order issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) requires all people, other than members of an immediate family or cohort, to maintain 2m physical distancing, The CMOH has acknowledged that on occasion, it may be difficult to maintain 2m distancing and encourages all people to wear masks when in public and unable to keep 2m distance. The CMOH has also ruled that in specific circumstances, such as organized sports, riding a bus, or when co-workers ride together in a company vehicle, people must wear a mask when they cannot maintain 2m distancing. Distancing, hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette and staying home if ill are still vital steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Ottawa Public Health was asked the same question, “Do I still need to stay 2-metres away from others if I am wearing a mask or face covering?” Their answer is consistent, “Yes. Wearing a mask is not an alternative to physical distancing. Every effort should be made to keep a 2-metre distance even when wearing a mask.”
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Are performers (bands, dance groups, etc.) at the Shell Theatre exempt?
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| Yes. The City requires organizers to submit a plan demonstrating how they will maintain 2m distancing or keep participants safe. Participants will be able to perform without wearing a mask, provided they adhere to their safety plan. |
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