Lambton's medical officer of health suggests people have to be educated about wearing masks where they're most appropriate and effective, regardless of bylaws.
Dr. Sudit Ranade said his advice to county councilors will most likely be the same when they're asked to reconsider a mandatory mask bylaw September 2.
He said the evidence hasn't changed but perhaps the political landscape has.
"Now the context has changed a little bit in the sense that more and more jurisdictions are going that way, so that's something that they can for sure consider," said Ranade. "And I think that the position really here is the councillors, the municipalities, the county, has a really good understanding of what the needs are, and if they feel that the needs are now different and that the intervention should be mandated, then they can absolutely go ahead and do that."
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade (Photo from Lambton Public Health)
Dr. Ranade said while compliance goes up when mask wearing is mandated, there are still outbreaks because people are socializing in places where masks would not be used or required.
"And so then what happens is many of these other jurisdictions that used to have indoor mask bylaws are considering outdoor mask bylaws, and they're considering, you know, 'how can we use these masks in more places,' and I think the real question becomes 'maybe the point is that they need to be used under different circumstances?' Such as close family gatherings, such as places where you're going to spend lots and lots of time with other people, with people you like actually, not necessarily with people you don't know. And many of those situations and circumstances, a bylaw would not apply because they are largely private gatherings."
Dr. Ranade said they need to try to shift people to using masks where and when they make the biggest difference to transmission of the virus.
-With files from Colin Gowdy