Face masks now mandatory in Calgary and Edmonton's indoor workplaces

Alberta health officials made face masks mandatory in all indoor workplaces in Calgary and Edmonton in a new set of public health rules issued Tuesday.

Premier Jason Kenney said the new rule is in addition to municipal bylaws mandating masks in all indoor public spaces.

Now, all workers, including delivery people and contractors, must wear face coverings at all times when they’re indoors. The only exceptions are when an employee is alone in the office, alone at their cubicle a safe distance from others, or there’s an appropriate barrier in place.

The order applies to Edmonton, Calgary, and the suburbs surrounding the cities.

• See also:
  • These are Alberta’s newly announced COVID-19 restrictions
  • Over 30% of Canadians admit to weight gain during pandemic: poll
  • Canada signs deal for thousands of doses of COVID-19 antibody treatment

Health Minister Tyler Shandro also urged employees to avoid going to the office if at all possible.

“If you can work from home, you should work from home,” he said.

This latest rule comes in a bundle of new public health orders from the Alberta government, which include restrictions on gathering with others outside one’s household.