The majority of people are now required to wear masks if they’re visiting Castlegar City Hall, the Castlegar Civic Works building and the Castlegar Community Forum building.
People that are exempt from wearing masks include children under two years of age, people with underlying medical conditions or people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing one.
While city staff installed plexiglass and barriers inside the facilities when they reopened to the public last spring, they decided it wouldn’t be necessary to make visitors wear masks.
City communications manager Bree Seabrook said staff changed their minds after B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry advised that people wear masks inside public spaces last week.
Daily COVID-19 cases have edged upwards in B.C. in recent weeks, including in the Interior Health region.
People will be asked to wear masks inside the facilities for the foreseeable future.
“We will be keeping this rule in place until Henry changes her recommendations or expectations,” said Seabrook.
The public will be required to wear masks at council meetings when they resume in person.
Masks will also have to be worn inside the Castlegar Fire Department (CFD) if it reopens to the public soon.
“The CFD never reopened to the public after it closed in the spring due to lack of traffic, however if it does open the same rules will apply,” said Seabrook.
Masks already have to be worn around common areas in the Castlegar Community Complex.
READ MORE: Masks to be required in all RDCK recreation facilities
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