More stringent mask enforcement on Regina Transit may be coming soon

Regina Transit has had a mandatory mask policy for riders for nearly two months now, but it hasn’t been enforcing it strictly.

That may be about to change.

Mayor Michael Fougere said Thursday — after announcing a city transit employee had tested positive for COVID-19 — that the city is going to be more bullish about masks.

“We have had a mandatory mask policy on transit, but we have not been enforcing it,” Fougere said shortly after the Saskatchewan Health Authority included numerous Regina Transit routes in its latest advisory on potential COVID-19 exposures. “Now we will enforce a compulsory mask policy on the bus. You will need to wear one to go on the bus.

“We are simply asking people to do the right thing. If you forget your mask or don’t have one, transit employees will provide one for you.”

Starting Monday, Regina Transit staff will distribute masks to passengers who don’t have one at the following locations during peak ridership times (weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.):

• 11th Avenue between Lorne Street and Rose Street (both sides of the street);
• Golden Mile Shopping Centre;
• Normanview Crossing;
• 12th Avenue between Smith Street and McIntyre Street (behind City Hall);
• University of Regina at the Riddell Centre stop;
• Harvard Way at Grasslands Drive (Harbour Landing Walmart);
• Northgate Mall;
• Superstore East; and,
• Glencairn Shopping Centre.

Fougere plans on putting a motion forward to city council Oct. 28 that will require mandatory face coverings on buses.

When asked how enforcement would work, Fougere said officials are still in the very early stages of figuring out what that would look like.

“Some employees can (and) some can’t enforce bylaws,” Fougere said. “Administration will come forward with some ideas.

“The safety of the drivers and the passengers is absolutely critical in this circumstance. I just feel very strongly that we need to do more to make sure people are completely safe.”

Fougere added he hopes people will understand.

“We are seeing an increase in cases across the city — everywhere, actually — so this makes a lot of sense,” he said. “It’s not hard to get a mask, have a mask, or put one on.”

The Regina Transit employee who tested positive worked from Thursday to Saturday. According to the SHA, the individual’s positive test result is not believed to be work-related.

The employee is self-isolating at home. Regina Transit learned of their positive result on Tuesday.

The SHA is still conducting contact tracing efforts.