The mayor of a city west of Toronto says municipal employees will have to wear masks for the next six weeks amid rising illnesses among workers and in the wider community.
Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington, Ont., says masks will be required for all employees in city facilities, with some exceptions, but won’t be required for members of the public at those venues.
Read: Employee placed on unpaid leave over mask refusal not entitled to reasonable notice: Alberta court
She says the decision to bring back masking was made in light of a “perfect storm” of illness in both the community and among city workers, noting increasing employee absences have made it difficult to deliver city services and the situation is causing burnout among workers covering for their sick colleagues.
The masking requirement will be evaluated in the coming weeks and the policy may be lifted sooner if health conditions change in the community and among employees.
Read: City of Toronto lifting coronavirus vaccine mandate Dec. 1