Photo by Whitehorse Star
Masks mandatory at CGC and arena
Effective today, those entering the Canada Games Centre and Takhini Arena must wear a mask.
Effective today, those entering the Canada Games Centre and Takhini Arena must wear a mask.
Patrons will be required to keep their mask on while in the concourses and spectating areas, the city said Friday afternoon.
They may remove their mask as they enter the Wellness Centre, ice surfaces, Field House, Flexi-Hall and Aquatics Centre, but they are required to put it back on afterward.
The decision aligns with last week’s announcement from Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical health officer, who made masks mandatory in common areas in schools outside of the classroom.
“We want to ensure that we are doing our part to help further minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Mayor Dan Curtis. “By working together and taking these steps, we can keep each other safe.”
He and city council will continue to closely monitor the situation and consider further restrictions, should they be necessary.
The city is encouraging everyone to do their part and wear a mask in these common areas.
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (16)
Up 8 Down 2
My Opinion on Nov 19, 2020 at 6:33 pm
@Nathan
If you are concerned and scared, stay home, no-one is forcing you to mingle. That's what I am doing, take responsibility for your own health don't expect others to do it for you.
Up 7 Down 7
Anie on Nov 19, 2020 at 1:58 pm
It's ok Not Sure, my mask fits, I wear it properly and it complied with the recommendations of health officials. Let's worry about something else.
Up 7 Down 6
not sure on Nov 18, 2020 at 4:21 pm
@ anie.. if you're wearing a mask that doesn't fit or doesn't meet the appropriate standards then you are giving people a false sense of security. Not sure about this idea that a little bit of covid is better than a lot of covid. So unless you're wearing the real deal, no thank you.
Up 22 Down 24
Anie on Nov 18, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Juniper I don't remember Dr. Tam saying our masks are not effective. I do remember her saying that a 3 layer mask is more effective. That's not the same thing. When I put on my mask, I don't pretend I'm protected from Covid - why would you say something like that? We all know, and have been told over and over, that wearing a mask is one more step we can take to protect other people, not ourselves. And yes, 6 ft distance will protect both you and me, but that is almost impossible to maintain in any grocery store in Whitehorse.
Up 22 Down 16
JohnW on Nov 18, 2020 at 1:13 pm
"Asymptomatic transmission is not or has ever been a driver by which respiratory infections are spread in epidemics." -- Dr. Anthony Fauci
Symptoms are proportional to the concentration of viruses in the body and the rate of shedding.
The idea of masks, is that they protect others from being exposed to your asymptomatic shedding of viral particles and thus infecting others. This misinformation is contrary to medical science, because in reality, we should welcome being exposed to asymptomatic shedding viruses as these folks are shedding at very low levels. That's how our immunity gets the benefit of developing knowledge without the dangers of exposure to high dosage rates as one would find from someone who is highly symptomatic.
Covid restrictions have turned fear into a virtue. Those who are afraid believe they are better people than those who aren't, and will subconsciously look for ways to multiply fear, because it's their virtue.
Up 15 Down 20
Anie on Nov 18, 2020 at 9:34 am
Over and over again scientists and health specialists, especially those who deal with virus related illness, tell us that masks help protect the people around us, they do not protect us. Yet, anti maskers keep making comments based on incorrect assumption that masks protect the wearer. Do they not read? Or do the facts not suit their opinions?
Up 41 Down 24
Max Mack on Nov 17, 2020 at 10:33 am
Evidence for efficacy of masks in reducing transmission of sars-cov-2 in a non-healthcare setting is very limited. That doesn't stop governments and their chief officers of health from imposing ever-greater restrictions under the premise that "every little bit helps". Since masks "must" help even a tiny bit, then they should be required. Or, so it goes.
Governments and their medical authorities are not explaining the science, but merely offering their opinions and official positions as though it were science. Nor are they asking what the unintended consequences of enforced mask-wearing are - they do not seem to care at all. Interestingly, the mainstream media also doesn't seem to care.
CBC is now claiming that mask-wearing is "critical". This is an absurd statement and has no basis in science.
When will the media start doing its job instead of parroting official narratives? Once upon a time, journalists would have raged about the obvious censorship that is currently in play.
Up 40 Down 2
DA on Nov 17, 2020 at 7:53 am
At home, I don't know of even one case being attributed to the CGC open up. Where are you hearing this? Source?
Up 29 Down 18
Juniper Jackson on Nov 16, 2020 at 6:31 pm
I really hate being forced to support someone elses fear. By all means, put that mask on and pretend you are not going to contract covid..ever.. after all 86,346 Chinese in just mainland China can't be wrong. The Chinese have been masked for 40 years to protect them from smog and acid rain.. those masks sure protected them from Covid and those are just the cases they reported.
Perhaps I'm jaded because I know too many people who really just want to stay home, but want the money from working too and use covid as the excuse.
I stay at least 6 feet away from others, not just because of covid, but I just normally don't like to get close to strangers.
***Just a side note to Mrs. Brown. Dr. Tam DID NOT ever say a mask was as good as a vaccine. Just 4 days ago she said our current masks were not effective, and if we were going to wear a mask, it needed to be 3 layers with a polyp filter, tight at the top and sides. ***
Up 14 Down 32
Barbara Russell on Nov 16, 2020 at 4:18 pm
Have a Drs note, can't use one. Asthma
Up 20 Down 27
Nathan Living on Nov 16, 2020 at 3:44 pm
Good news.
I do not want to die because someone is careless or because precautions are not taken seriously.
Council has made city administration take our health concerns seriously.
Up 13 Down 29
JOhn on Nov 16, 2020 at 3:20 pm
If you're going to mandate masks then mandate appropriate masks. All I see is homemade ill fitting masks or those cheapo paper masks than only give a sense of false protection and put people at risk. Garbage masks are not better than nothing, they give a false sense of security and make things worse. N-95 proper fitting masks or stay home. Start issuing public fines. My masks have n-95 stamped on the front for everyone to see, and yes they cost way more.
Up 29 Down 46
Matthew on Nov 16, 2020 at 2:53 pm
We live in backwards world.. remember this is the SAME government and non government (UN and WHO) which allows toxic, carcinogenic chemicals to be sprayed all over our land and food. Think about that one second, I mean actually think about that..
Up 39 Down 27
My Opinion on Nov 16, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Yep, that makes perfect sense. Where people are social distanced and breathing normal, must be masked. Where people are cheek to cheek and fighting for a puck, no mask.
No wonder you loose peoples buy-in to these poorly thought out, seen to be doing something exercises.
Up 4 Down 72
At home in the Yukon on Nov 16, 2020 at 2:16 pm
This is because COVID is running rampant in the territory. Our situation is much worse than it was when CGC opened. And at least 15 cases have been attributed to CGC being opened up.
Up 54 Down 28
Ruth Brown on Nov 16, 2020 at 2:05 pm
This is definitely a good move. I have a young family in the Yukon. Having visited your lovely town, I noticed you have a small hospital with limited ICU beds. I am from NL and we have kept our numbers down by implementing a total wearing of masks rule when entering any businesses, stores, pharmacies, restaurants etc.etc. Once seated in restaurants you can remove them of course.
Dr Tam has said a mask is as good as a vaccine and a small price to pay rather then closing down businesses or overcrowding hospitals with very ill people. We have also closed our province to areas outside of Atlantic Canada except for special circumstances or rotational workers all who must self isolate on arrival. Good luck! Great news about vaccine today.