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‘Free of the mask’: Businesses taking cautious approach to Alberta’s full reopening ( Canada )
The Canadian Press ^ | July 1, 2021 | Bill Graveland

Posted on 07/01/2021 9:54:41 AM PDT by george76

Alberta lifted almost all its remaining COVID-19 restrictions Thursday, but many businesses said they are taking a more cautious approach as things start to return to normal.

There are no more limits on indoor and outdoor social gatherings, no more capacity limits on restaurants, stores and places of worship. Weddings and other celebrations are back on.

Alberta is also lifting its mask mandate. The exception is in Calgary, where the city has decided to revisit its mandatory mask bylaw on Monday.

Shoppers in grocery stores and diners at restaurants are free to go maskless, although it is up to individual businesses to decide how comfortable they are reverting to pre-pandemic norms.

“The board is even a little bit split on the issue,” said Jeff Jamieson, president of the Alberta Hospitality Association and the owner of Donna Mac and Proof restaurants in Calgary.

“Everybody was pretty excited to no longer have a mask on, but I do know some businesses where they’re asking their servers to continue to wear masks.”

Jamieson said his restaurants will allow servers to ditch face coverings once it’s allowed in Calgary. He expects most others across the province will do the same.

“I think most businesses and people in those businesses are going to make the choice to be free of the mask.”

A public affairs spokeswoman with Sobeys said all its stores have followed public health orders during the pandemic, but Alberta employees will now have final say on masks.

“Masks are now recommended instead of mandatory,” said Sarah Dawson. “All other safety measures remain in place to keep our stores a safe environment to work and shop.”

Sobeys Inc. operates more than 1,500 stores in all provinces under a variety of banners, including Safeway, IGA and FreshCo.

All COVID-19 safety measures will remain in effect in at least two of Alberta’s hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic.

The JBS meat-packing plant in Brooks, Alta., and Cargill’s facility in High River, Alta., will keep safety protocols in place. Cargill had one of the largest outbreaks during the pandemic.

“At this time, our employees are still required to wear masks as part of our commitment to safety and effort to slow the communitywide spread of COVID-19,” said Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan.

“We continue to review our protocols with medical professionals and will revise in conjunction with local health guidance as appropriate.”

In the Fort McMurray region, there have been 20 outbreaks at oilsands sites or work camps. One company, Cenovus Energy, said safeguards will remain in place at the facilities it operates.

“Our oilsands sites … continue to observe well-established COVID-19 protocols,” said senior media adviser Reg Curren. “For now, masking and physical-distancing protocols remain in place.”

The president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, the union that represents meat-packing and grocery workers in Alberta, is worried that Premier Jason Kenney has moved ahead with the reopening without an appropriate amount of caution.

“Leave all the protocols in place that currently exist in workplaces from supermarkets to meat-packing plants, and then let’s conduct a review in 30 to 60 days with some medical professionals,” Tom Hesse said.

“His approach is untested. When there’s an unknown, when you’re dealing with worker health and safety, you should err on the side of caution.”


TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alberta; canada; covid; covid19; mandate; mandates; mask; maskmandate; maskmandates; masks; masksmandates; restrictions
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1 posted on 07/01/2021 9:54:41 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76

This is Alberta? Supposed to be the “Texas” of Canada. So what are things like in Ontario and Quebec now?


2 posted on 07/01/2021 9:59:35 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: george76

Will justine trueDOH put a stop to that?


3 posted on 07/01/2021 9:59:43 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this?)
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To: george76

A few places down here in Florida still have masks required signs but customers are ignoring them.

Medical facilities masks required and everyone is wearing.


4 posted on 07/01/2021 10:03:09 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator

Signs?

I have a bad case of SOSI

S udden
O nset
S elective
I lliteracy


5 posted on 07/01/2021 10:09:42 AM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: TexasGator

Masks do not stop a virus.. and their use is even harmful.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3952187/posts


6 posted on 07/01/2021 10:10:27 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

I won’t go to businesses that are still forcing maskerbation on customers. More and more aren’t even forcing their employees to endure face diapers around here.


7 posted on 07/01/2021 10:13:56 AM PDT by Mr. Rabbit
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To: george76

Why did you post that to me?


8 posted on 07/01/2021 10:19:39 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: george76

My state had ended the mask mandate in May but if you want to see the Doctor, you have to war a 😷.


9 posted on 07/01/2021 10:21:33 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: george76

Statism is a blight on humanity.


10 posted on 07/01/2021 10:24:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
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To: TexasGator

Everyone should know masks are useless and harmful. You included.


11 posted on 07/01/2021 12:19:42 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: Bulwyf

Water intoxication can kill.


12 posted on 07/01/2021 12:34:21 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator

Sure can, but you need a lot. Just wearing a mask is harmful to one’s health, no excess necessary.

They’re also extremely useless, but you just dodged both of those points. *shrug* I don’t care, I’ll stay healthy.


13 posted on 07/01/2021 12:43:04 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: Bulwyf

“Sure can, but you need a lot. Just wearing a mask is harmful to one’s health, no excess necessary.”

Wearing a mask reduces the risk of water intoxication.


14 posted on 07/01/2021 12:45:10 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Bulwyf

Do you know what happened today?


15 posted on 07/01/2021 12:58:57 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Bulwyf

Why are you dodging the significance of today?


16 posted on 07/01/2021 1:17:41 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Bulwyf
"They’re also extremely useless, "


17 posted on 07/01/2021 1:22:32 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Bulwyf
Just wearing a mask is harmful to one’s health, no excess necessary. They’re also extremely useless, but you just dodged both of those points

Possibly useful loading hay into a barn.

18 posted on 07/01/2021 1:24:31 PM PDT by 1Old Pro (Let's make crime illegal again!)
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To: 1Old Pro

Ya, somewhat, I tried that before, but the dust still got around and it was making it hard to breath in the loft, so I ditched it.


19 posted on 07/01/2021 2:22:35 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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To: TexasGator

Canada day?


20 posted on 07/01/2021 2:23:21 PM PDT by Bulwyf
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