Cayley East is shown with her family outside No Frills Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Mask up for Safety

Many shoppers support wearing masks as COVID-19 precaution

Sep 3, 2020 | 5:39 PM

Donning her own face-mask Cayley East and her family were getting ready to shop for groceries in North Battleford Wednesday.

Accompanied by her husband and four children, East said she strongly supports wearing masks as a COVID-19 precaution.

Discovery Co-op is now recommending customers wear masks while shopping, although it is not required at this point. No Frills requires customers wear masks now, similar to Walmart.

East said she doesn’t have an issue with wearing masks.

“It’s annoying but I think that it is important,” she said. “People need to be a little more informed about why they have to wear them, so they are wearing them properly. And, so they are not so resentful of it. I think it is a simple thing to do, to keep people who need it most safe.”

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According to customer service at No Frills head office, many locations including the local store, are currently offering customers a mask for a $1 donation to PC Children’s Charity as an option if people need one. The offer runs the first week of the new mandatory mask policy, but there is a possibility it might be extended depending on the store.

The Real Canadian Superstore locations have a mandatory mask policy in place but do not provide masks to shoppers at the entrance.

Walmart provided complimentary masks for the first month of its mandatory mask policy but now requires customers come with their own, or purchase them at the store.

All the companies do exempt young children and people who cannot wear a mask for health reasons.

East mentioned she believes stores should provide masks free to customers if they mandate people wear them.

“I think if it is going to be required, not as a city’s bylaw, that if it’s a store that is deciding to do it that they should provide it,” East said.

She said she and her family wear masks even if they are not required because it is safer for other people.

Customers are shown wearing masks outside No Frills Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Another shopper, Linda Fineday, who was wearing her own mask outside No Frills, said she does not mind being required to wear a mask when shopping.

She said she had no issues if people need to pay a small token to receive a mask at a store either.

“I think a dollar is not as bad as a disease,” Fineday said.

Discovery Co-op Marketing and Communications Manager Leanne Ducommun said, even though the province has not ordered masks to be worn in stores as part of its regulations, it is something customers may want to consider when visiting any of the Co-op facilities.

“Right at this time it is not mandatory; we are just simply encouraging our members and guests to wear one,” she said.

Ducommun said staff are already required to don face masks, for their safety and the customers.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @OCoureurDesBois