Masks are now mandatory at multiple La Ronge, Air Ronge and Lac La Ronge Indian Band businesses. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

coronavirus

Masks now mandatory at several tri-community businesses

Oct 13, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The number of businesses requiring the mandatory wearing of masks is increasing in the tri-communities.

As of Oct. 13, masks will be required upon entry at six stores operated by Keethanow Group of Businesses including Keethanow Corner Store, Keethanow Gas Bar, Keethanow Lumber and Keethanow Supermarket in the immediate area. It has also been decided Keethanow Bingo North will be closed until further notice.

Kostas Restaurant, which was included in a Saskatchewan Health Authority notice to the public on the weekend, is also requiring customers to wear a mask upon entering the building. According to the notice, a person or persons attended Kostas while likely infectious on Oct. 6 between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Those who were in the business during those times should self-monitor for symptoms.

“For me, as a businessman in town, I support it should be mandatory in our town right away as soon as we can legally,” said Sonny Montilla, who introduced a mandatory mask wearing policy at The Source for customers on Oct. 9. “I hope everyone will follow and it won’t cause any trouble for other businesses. I’m hoping other businesses in town will follow as well.”

Montilla explained the reason for having to wear a mask is because of the rise of coronavirus cases in the region and the current outbreak at the Stanley Mission Health Centre. Stanley Mission is currently on lockdown as there are six positive cases in the community. A seventh case is in the Lac La Ronge area.

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Since his store reopened June 19, Montilla noted staff have been required to wear a mask. He’s also noticing more residents doing so with about seven out of 10 customers bringing their own recently.

“I’m hoping they are doing that for the sake of their family, for their own staff and mostly for all the people in the tri-community,” Montilla said. “I hope everyone wearing masks respect each other.”

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson is also supportive of wearing masks to reduce the spread of coronavirus. She mentioned band employees are required to wear masks and are asked to do so while out in public during work hours.

“We’re just trying to implement that because we know masks do make a difference, as well as washing your hands [and] keeping a physical distance,” Cook-Searson said.

According to the federal government, wearing a homemade non-medical mask or facial covering in the community is recommended for periods of time when it is not possible to consistently maintain a two-metre physical distance others, particularly in crowded public settings. It’s recommended to wear masks in stores, shopping areas or while using public transportation.

Additional information on masks can be found here.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno