(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

Mandatory Masks

M.L. Extra Foods implements mandatory masks

Aug 28, 2020 | 1:40 PM

Meadow Lake’s Extra Foods grocery store plans to implement a mandatory mask policy. The store notified its customers via social media on Aug. 26 the policy would come into effect over the weekend.

Loblaw’s public relations said Extra Foods locations across the country will require customers, as well as staff, to wear masks in-store beginning Aug. 29.

“Consistent with public health guidelines, masks are not mandatory for customers who are unable to wear one due to medical reasons,” Loblaw’s said in a statement to meadowlakeNOW. “We trust our customers will respect this policy and do what they can to help keep their fellow shoppers and our store teams safe.”

Green Lake Gas and Grocery store owner, Mark Ramshaw said he doesn’t require masks in his store but has made them available for staff if needed and sanitizes accordingly.

“I don’t require [masks] because if there was an outbreak in the area, I would understand the use of them,” he said. “I think social distancing is fine, but this is overkill.”

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While the policy is not a provincial policy, Ramshaw said he supports the fellow business owner in their decision to implement the policy.

“If there was an outbreak in the community and there was a number of noted cases, that may change the dynamic but I don’t think it’s necessary right now,” he said.

(submitted photo/Extra Foods Meadow Lake)

Lawrence Iron from Canoe Narrows said universal directions on how to handle the pandemic are not consistent. He feels the north is “going backwards” since the pandemic began in March. He said when he travels to other provinces, he is not required to wear a mask and said he respects a business owner’s decision to implement the policy.

“Why is the north pressing for this now when it should have come in place earlier,” he said. “People are still able to travel all over the world.”

Local resident, Lillian Voth said she isn’t sure if masks are effective in preventing virus transmission.

“I don’t really know what to think as far as masks are concerned. I think it’s a little overboard,” she said. “Social distancing I can understand but I feel this is overdone when a lot of people just don’t know.”

Voth said she’s happy to see kids returning to school though questions whether youth wearing masks in close proximity to one another will be effective. With plexiglasd now functional in most retail stores, Voth said she’s tempted to poke her head around the shield because she cannot hear store staff despite her hearing device.

Caralee Strome, general manager of Meadow Lake’s Co-op said masks are not required at this time in the local Co-op grocery store.

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nicole.reis@jpbf.ca

Twitter:@nicolereis7722