File photo of an N95 mask courtesy of © CanStockPhoto.com/ninunFile photo of an N95 mask courtesy of © CanStockPhoto.com/ninun
Sarnia

Lambton County rejects mandatory wearing of masks

The County of Lambton will not mandate the wearing of masks.

Lambton County Council rejected a motion to legislate masks Wednesday, opting instead to encourage those, who are capable of doing so, to wear a mask in indoor public facilities when physical social distancing is not possible.

While still supporting the amended motion, Mayor Mike Bradley said the mandatory option would be in line with other cities.

"We're looking like the odd person out right across this province and I don't think that's a good thing in this particular situation, there are times that it is, but I think in this case we're finding every excuse not to take the steps to lead," said Bradley.

Bradley warned county council that it may regret not making masks mandatory in August or September.

Councillors Jackie Rombouts, Ian Veen, Dave Boushy and Margaret Bird voted against the passed motion.

Rombouts said she didn't see the point of it.

"It's my understanding that if you're in an enclosed space with a large group of people and everybody has a mask on and one person has COVID, it could still pass from that one person to the rest of the group regardless of whether they're wearing a mask or not," said Rombouts.

Lambton Medical Officer of Health Doctor Sudit Ranade said masks are not guaranteed to protect the wearer 100 per cent, but they are an additional precaution.

"Now we're talking about people who might be mildly symptomatic or might not know that they have the disease, they may have been incubating it, and if you are wearing a mask what we understand is that mask, depending on how it's constructed and how effective it is, may be able to stop the transmission of some of those droplets out of your mouth on to other people or on to surfaces," said Ranade.

Dr. Ranade said his first recommendation would still be to keep sick people out of public settings and social distance whenever you can.

Lambton Public Health released a technical briefing on the wearing of masks Wednesday. Details can be found here.

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