Manitoba mask mandate ending too soon for the unvaccinated, say parents, advocates
CBC
Manitobans are now free to take off their masks in public, but some say the change is coming too soon for people who aren't fully vaccinated.
Pregnant mom Janessa Nayler-Giesbrecht is on edge, as she waits for the first signs of labour.
"The mandate is actually lifting on the exact same date that I am due with my second baby," Nayler-Giesbrecht said.
Manitoba's last pandemic-related public health orders expired overnight, meaning masks are no longer required in indoor public spaces across the province, although they are still strongly recommended and some organizations and businesses have chosen to continue to require them.
The easing of mask restrictions puts extra pressure on Nayler-Giesbrecht's family, she said.
"I was trying to get so many errands done in the last couple of weeks, just so I could do it during a time when I knew people would be masked."
Nayler-Giesbrecht also has a three-year-old son, which means neither of her children will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future.
"Moving forward from March 15, we won't be going out and about," said the young mom, who's on maternity leave from her job as a youth pastor. "We've been trying not to be paranoid, but to be appropriately cautious."
Her family has installed a new high-efficiency particulate air filter in their home and will continue to get groceries through curbside pickup. They'll also ask family and friends to mask up before coming to visit their newborn.
Nayler-Giesbrecht said her loved ones don't mind.
"It's a simple thing. You pop it on and it's a little bit of a peace of mind."
Lawyer Zilla Jones is also a mom, with two boys age 10 and 14 who decided on their own to keep wearing masks, both in class and during extracurricular activities.
"They say masks are important and they feel safe with their masks on," Jones said. "This is normal for them, and to take away their normal can be stressful."
Jones said her younger son barely remembers the days when he didn't have to wear a mask to school. Lately, some kids have been taking them off during gym class, and that has the fourth grader feeling anxious.
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