Behind the mask
Cape Breton residents take to mask wearing despite a general dislike of the now-mandatory facial coverings
SYDNEY — A lot can change in six months.
As recently as January, wearing a mask in public was deemed suspicious – now not wearing a face covering when out and about is likely to raise some eyebrows.
“Last week I was in a bank with a mask on and I was struck by the fact that it was okay, nobody looked twice at me – before COVID I probably would have been arrested,” said a mask-wearing pedestrian who when approached as he walked along Sydney’s Kings Road identified himself simply as Dave.
The wearing of face masks in Nova Scotia became mandatory on July 31, almost four weeks after the opening of the so-called Atlantic Bubble that allows travel without the need for self-isolation within Canada’s four most easterly provinces.
The directive was issued by the province as a precautionary measure to prepare for an expected second wave of the coronavirus. To date, Nova Scotia has had more than 64,000 negative tests results, 1,071 positive COVID-19 cases and 64 deaths.
While there are no coronavirus patients presently in hospital, there are four active cases in the province.
Two were identified Sunday and two last week. All four are related to travel outside of Canada. All four are in self-isolation.
Previous to the latest cases, Nova Scotia had gone more than two weeks without a new case. But Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said that with an anticipated second wave it is best to get people into the practice of mask-wearing before the virus strikes again.
“There’s a possibility, coming into the fall, we’re going to get more COVID – that’s very possible, if not likely,” Strang said late last week.
“Let’s take the time now when it’s very safe - having more people wearing masks is going to limit the opportunity for COVID to spread when it gets back here.”
And by all appearances, more people were wearing masks over the August long weekend. At least when entering stores, restaurants and other public places.
Unsurprisingly, not all people like wearing the face covering. But they are wearing them anyway even though the new rules will not be enforced.
“I can’t stand wearing them, I can’t breathe right, I hate them,” proclaimed Florence Cooke, while doing some shopping at Ed’s Books and More in downtown Sydney on Sunday.
“But I’m wearing one because that’s what we have to do.”
While she wore a white disposable mask, her granddaughter Chloe Cooke sported a neutral black covering that combined with her long red hair gave her a certain incognito look. Shopkeeper Albert Miles, who also expressed his disdain for the facial covering, wore a simple blue disposable mask.
“This is the way we have to do business for now – it’s as simple as that,” said Miles.
In commercial parking lots across Cape Breton Regional Municipality, it is now common to see people donning masks as they make their way to the stores and quickly pulling them off as they return to their vehicles afterwards.
Jennifer Wall and her mother Patricia were among those not wearing masks – instead, they wore clear face shields during a trip to a local grocery store.
“These shields are way better, they’re not as restrictive as a mask,” said Jennifer, as her mother nodded in agreement.
Others, like Lisa Brewer, are opting for the more traditional face masks that have strings that affix to one’s ears.
“I’m disabled and I am very vulnerable so I have been wearing a mask since COVID started and I am really happy that everybody is wearing them now,” said the Sydney resident, who was on her way home from a trip to the Sydney River shopping district.
“People were wearing them in the Walmart and in the Tim Hortons – everybody’s wearing them now and it’s good.”
Six-year-old Eliza Boudreau was still wearing her stylish flowered mask along with a pink unicorn cap after a trip into the Sydney River Walmart.
“I don’t like wearing them,” she proclaimed.
Enough said. It seems rather clear that most people do not like wearing masks. However, though far from a scientific study, this scribe could not find anyone who refused to wear a mask inside a public or commercial space.
Giant Tiger owner Dan Bower said customers to his Welton Street store in Sydney have all been compliant.
“Nobody has argued – everybody has been great and has gone along with it,” said Bower, who added that face masks and tube-like facial coverings have been among the discount store’s best sellers as of late.
“We had one person who said they could not wear one for medical reasons and we were fine with that, but nobody has abused that privilege.”
There is no denying that wearing a mask on a hot summer day can be uncomfortable. However, many people are coming up with innovative designs that have turned mask-wearing into somewhat of a fashion statement.
Indeed, local ophthalmologist Dr. Mohammed Farooq, who said he has been very impressed with local compliance of the mandatory mask rules, was found sporting a Cape Breton tartan mask. Some masks have floral designs, while others depict everything from animals to cartoon characters.
And, for those people heading out without a mask, many commercial establishments have disposable coverings available at the door.