Some Hamilton businesses opt to keep masking in place despite relaxing restrictions
A handful of Hamilton businesses say their patrons and staff will still need to wear a mask even as the city contemplates dropping its face-covering bylaw.
Councillors are expected to meet Monday to consider repealing the city's bylaw - which is independent of the provincial order already set to end that day.
If council decides to rescind the rules, it would likely happen as of Monday - but even under that scenario, there could still be a short period on Monday when the province says you can shop unmasked, while the city bylaw says you cannot.
Meanwhile, several businesses in Hamilton have taken to social media to announce that they plan to keep mandatory masks in place - at least on a temporary basis.
Gravity Climbing Gym on Frid Street said they will continue to require climbers to wear masks until at least April 1. Owner Reid Monk previously told The Spectator that the gym's decision was made primarily to protect staff from getting sick.
Both Arcana Salon on Cannon Street West and Strut Salon on Walnut Street South have said that both staff and clients will need to be masked as they get their hair cut.
Ultimately, we have to do what feels the safest for both us and you, so we can continue to work and do your lovely hair," wrote Arcana in an Instagram post. We're all still trying our best to navigate these times."
Citizen Kid on Locke Street as well as Girl on the Wing on King Street East will also continue to require customers to wear masks while shopping in-person.
Many of our customers are too young to wear masks or be vaccinated, and as a store with only a few staff members we won't be able to stay open if we catch a run of COVID," wrote Citizen Kid in an Instagram post. We believe that how you treat the most vulnerable among us is the true measure of a community."
At Mondelez Canada, which operates a candy factory on Ewen Road in west Hamilton, masks will continue to be required in their facilities, according to a statement sent to The Spectator.
We continue to evaluate our protocols on an ongoing basis and are hopeful that we will be able to relax the masking requirement in the near future," read the statement.
The end of the provincial mask mandate comes just weeks after the termination of Ontario's proof-of-vaccination program. However, a handful of Hamilton businesses have opted to keep the program in place - a move allowed under the province's reopening plan.
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com