This impending recommendation to wear a mask is causing mixed opinions in the Waterloo region. “People are going to get sick regardless, so whether we bring back masks or not, I think it’s kind of pointless,” said Cara Allen, a server at The Duke of Wellington. The Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore is expected to issue a blanket recommendation for face coverings in public to limit the spread of the respiratory virus. However, Dr Moore is expected to stop short of asking for a mask mandate. “People probably don’t like wearing masks if it’s required, but the point is that if you don’t wear masks and if you do nothing, then the wave of infections that we’re seeing now will stop,” said Zahid Butt, an assistant professor in the School of Science. of Public Health at the University of Waterloo. The province’s top doctor had previously warned of autumn and winter outbreaks of respiratory illnesses and said he would recommend a mask if hospitals were affected. “I think hospitals and most healthcare professionals are really hoping that the public can do things like wear a mask, get their flu shots and get caught up with their COVID-19 shots. But at this point, I think we have to do something to try to reduce the strain,” said Dr. Alan Grill, chief of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital. For some businesses in Waterloo Region, a coverage recommendation increases the possibility of re-enforcing coverage policies. “We’ve been wearing masks all this time just because we want to protect our older customers and just all of our customers, so we think it’s a really good idea that masks are coming back,” explained Natasha Smolcic, retail employee at Words That Deserve books. “I don’t know. I guess it just depends on whether other businesses around do the same thing or not, then we’ll follow suit. I think for now, probably not,” Allen added. Butt says if a mask recommendation isn’t effective, an order may be needed to stem the rising hospitalizations. “You’re seeing flu cases, you’re also seeing more RSV in children this year. It comes down to whether we want to wait to propose an order or should we just issue an order now so you know you’re at least trying to reduce these infections,” he said.
