The Town of Olds will not yet be implementing a mask bylaw.
Olds remains listed under Enhanced Status by Alberta Health Services with 15 active cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, November 25th.
Mayor Michael Muzychka says council agreed on Wednesday afternoon to table the mask bylaw indefinitely.
He says the Alberta government wants to do a review of the province’s newly implemented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in three weeks. Mayor Muzychka notes that first reading of the mask bylaw has been passed and it can be opened up at any time.
There was a very good debate about the issue and the public was able to participate as a special council meeting was held through electronic communications on Wednesday, according to Mayor Muzychka.
As he explains, the Town received close to one-hundred emails regarding the issue – with quite a bit more of them against a mask bylaw – plus there were a handful of individuals who came forward and asked to speak.
Mayor Muzychka continues to stress to community members to respect the opinions of others and be kind to one another.
Alberta remains the only province in Canada not to require face coverings in public areas. Mayor Muzychka was asked for his thoughts on the fact that the provincial government has left the decision up to each individual municipality.
He thanks the citizens and businesses in the Town of Olds for keeping the COVID-19 infection numbers in check during the entire pandemic.
While first reading of the mask bylaw has been passed, Mayor Muzychka adds council has not voted on second or third reading and instead the decision was made on Wednesday to table it indefinitely.
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