COVID Protections: What Now?
COVID-19 has been extremely frustrating for us all, and this past week has been a whirlwind. I’m hearing from many Edmontonians expressing their fatigue, relief, anger, fear, sadness, or a combination of many emotions.
What is apparent, is that the constant lifting and then reintroduction of restrictions is frustrating and ineffective.
It is confusing for the public to navigate the constant “yo-yo-ing” of restrictions, which often results in decreased compliance rates each time these measures are lifted and then reintroduced. My worry is that if we don’t continue to take some measures, we will again experience higher case rates and more strain on our systems, and this will ultimately not aid our transition out of this pandemic.
With the Government of Alberta abruptly announcing changes to restrictions, our City was thrust into uncertainty. Once again, we are put in the position to consider public health in the gap of a province willing to do so. On Wednesday, City Council unanimously voted to have Administration promptly bring back options and implications for protecting public health, including exploring a Restrictions Exemption Program (REP).
It is extremely important that we consider ALL possible avenues when it comes to covid and supporting public health, AND consider the implications of these decisions.
Today, I voiced my support for continuing the City's existing Face Coverings Bylaw (Mask Bylaw), and I voiced concerns with the City implementing a Restriction Exemption Program.
Council discussed these options at length and ultimately Council voted today to not move forward with a municipal REP program and will keep the mask bylaw in place.
These are decisions that I do not take lightly and are extremely nuanced. There are a few things I’d like to highlight in reaching my decision, specifically related to a City implemented REP.
Consistency. I stress why health measures on issues such as these must be handled at the provincial-level to support consistency from one jurisdiction to another to be effective. The inconsistency in the region and province weakens some of the public health benefits that would exist if this was done consistently at the provincial level.
Local Economy. By implementing a municipal REP program we are creating an uneven and inequitable playing field with other local businesses in the capital region. Many of the consequences of this are unknown in how folks would react, but I’ve heard clearly that many local businesses can’t take another hit.
Information. While I firmly believe that all levels of government, including municipalities, have a responsibility to support public health, Edmonton simply does not have access to vital public health information and data that would be necessary for the successful implementation of an REP. Council looked to the Government of Alberta and provincial health authorities to provide the information and data that informed their decisions. This information not only should have been available to City Council in advance, but most importantly, to the public, as this information is essential so that we all can make decisions to the best of our abilities, based on the availability of a breadth of information.
Enforcement. If we have a bylaw, we must enforce it. The resources and tools at the municipal level are limited in that regard, so while intentions to protect public health are present, capacity is limited.
With all this being said, the same arguments cannot be said for a mask bylaw. The continuation of the City’s Face Coverings Bylaw is a tangible, existing and proven measure that we can continue to take to support public health. We need to exercise caution about lifting any measures - including the mask bylaw.
The division in our communities is widespread and this announcement will be received differently. My hope is that we don’t lose sight of how we are all in this together and we need to continue to look out for one another.
I strongly encourage all to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, and exercise kindness and caution in interactions with others - including wearing masks, social distancing, and staying home if you are feeling ill.
We all want to live our lives to the fullest and we as a society must do what we can to support the safety and well-being of ourselves and those around us.
