August 10, 2020
The City of Edmonton thanks Edmontonians for wearing face coverings in public indoor spaces as outlined in the
Temporary Face Coverings bylaw implemented August 1. By wearing face coverings, Edmontonians can help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Compliance to the bylaw remains high, with most people wearing face coverings or masks when in public indoor spaces and public vehicles. Internal City data indicates more than 80-90 per cent of citizens wore face coverings on transit and in City recreation centres. Nearly 97 per cent compliance was found in businesses such as retail stores, grocery stores and malls. Peace Officers have also observed more than 80 per cent compliance during patrols and in vehicles for hire to date.
It is vital that we all be good Edmontonians and continue to follow Alberta Health guidelines, including:
- avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose
- practice proper hand hygiene
- cough or sneeze into your elbow, or into a tissue
- maintain two metres of physical distance
- stay home if you feel sick
Exemptions
The City understands that not all people can wear a mask or face covering. The bylaw includes exemptions for people who are:
- under age 2
- unable to place, use, or remove a face covering without assistance
- with mental or physical concerns or limitations, or any other protected ground under the Alberta Human Rights Act, that prevent them from wearing a face covering
- eating or drinking while seated in designated spaces or as part of a religious or spiritual ceremony
- engaging in water activities or physical exercise
- providing assistance or care to someone with a disability who would be hindered if the caregiver is wearing a face covering
- engaging in services that require removal of the face covering (e.g., having a passport photo taken or dental work)
Unfortunately, some people with legitimate exemptions are being challenged or made uncomfortable when they go out in public without a mask or face covering. The exemption card program is designed to give people with an exemption a way to show they cannot wear a mask or face covering.
Requiring people to provide the City with proof of a health concern—such as a doctor’s note—before exemption cards are issued is not a good use of healthcare resources, and City staff are not in a position to assess health information, were it presented to us by an individual. As such, obtaining a card is based on the honour system and the City trusts Edmontonians will view and use this program the way it was intended, and not use it as a way to avoid wearing a mask or face covering when they are otherwise able to do so.
If people who are exempt under the bylaw and are experiencing refusal of service, they may advise the City in order to follow up with the organization. Because schools, childcare and healthcare facilities are not covered by this bylaw, the exemption cards do not apply, and people should be following the mask use requirements outlined by those facilities and organizations.
Currently, exemption cards are available at seven
recreation centres and a process for people to order cards through the mail is being finalized. Additional details will be available in the coming days.
Over Saturday and Sunday, 1,289 exemption cards were issued. This morning 375 more cards were issued. While we expect more people will obtain an exemption card, this represents well below one per cent of Edmonton’s population. Since the bylaw came into effect on August 1, approximately 32,407 people have attended a City recreation centre. Only 990 were observed not wearing a face covering with 583 of these under the age of two.
We are pleased to see that most Edmontonians who are able to are wearing a face covering and trust that only those who require an exemption will be obtaining a card.
