Editorial: If wearing masks will help, we should do it - StCatharinesStandard.ca

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If ordering everyone to wear protective masks in crowded, indoor places is what it will take to push us closer to a return to normal life, we should do it.

Both Niagara Falls and St. Catharines city councils plan to debate that issue in the coming days, and hopefully more municipalities will follow suit and air the issue.

Perhaps the best scenario is a region-wide bylaw. We’ll leave that to the politicians.

Regardless, the science appears to be on the side of mask-wearing: Studies have shown that even a simple, hand-made mask kept close to the face at the top and bottom can be effective.

They can greatly reduce the distance that we all expel droplets from our lungs when we cough or even breathe, from several feet down to mere inches.

To mandate masks — and enforce a bylaw with the threat of fines — is an extraordinary step, granted. But of course, we are living in extraordinary times right now.

Unless you have a serious breathing issue, wearing a mask is an inconvenience. Nothing more.

It’s not an infringement on your right to go bare-faced — as if such a right even existed — any more than shoes infringe on your right to go barefoot.

Under the circumstances it would be a reasonable demand for municipalities to make to protect the public health.

That’s especially true with Niagara handling its move into Stage 2 reopening fairly well (with the exception of some crowded scenes at the beaches and occasionally in mall concourses).

We all want to take the next step of further reopenings in Stage 3, a decision that lies with Queen’s Park.

The province hasn’t been all that clear about what Stage 3 will look like — its website says only “reopening most remaining workplaces, while carefully and gradually lifting restrictions.”

It says “large public gatherings” — presumably concerts and sporting events — will continue to be restricted.

Still, Stage 3 is the next place we want to be.

Niagara’s COVID-19 new-case count is already low, and if requiring masks at places like indoor malls, grocery and shopping centres is enough to convince the government we’re ready for Stage 3, we’re on board.

“We have been so lucky so far when you look at the horror story down south, and we mustn’t get complacent,” said St. Catharines city Coun. Carlos Garcia.

He’s right, as is Niagara Falls Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni who cited the need to continue helping struggling businesses.

“If we are so focused on keeping our economy running and helping these businesses stay open, mandating masks should be one of our first priorities.”

Niagara’s chief medical officer of health has the authority to require people to wear masks, but, as Dr. Mustafa Hirji has said, it would be “unenforceable.”

If municipalities ordered masks, though, it could be enforced by local bylaw officers.

The fact is, we’re getting there.

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Ontario has avoided taking the easy way out, as some U.S. states did when they reopened far too early and were too lax from the start in enforcing even basic safety guidelines.

We didn’t do that, and we’ve seen our numbers continually fall. Pending that second wave that all the experts say is inevitable, we seem to have figured out how to continue bringing this thing under control.

If wearing masks is another temporary, inconvenient step along the way — especially with schools reopening in some form, come September — we should do it.

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Editorial: If wearing masks will help, we should do it - StCatharinesStandard.ca
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