After close to eight months of mandatory mask-wearing in public spaces around town, starting tomorrow Cochranites will once again have the choice.

July 1, 2021, marks the end of strict health measures across the province, including mandatory face coverings. While some areas across the province have extended the implementation of mandatory masks, the Town of Cochrane isn't one of them.

Following a close 4-3 vote, at the April 12 Town Council meeting, the decision was made not to extend the mandatory mask bylaw in Cochrane beyond May 1 and instead leave that decision in the hands of the provincial government.

Now as Alberta enters Stage 3 on July 1, Cochrane is following provincial recommendations.

Back on July 29, 2020, Town Council had first passed bylaw 20, establishing that face-coverings would become mandatory in indoor public places and vehicles if Cochrane hit the double digits in active COVID-19 cases. 

After several months of teetering back and forth in the single digits, Cochrane reached 14 active cases on November 9, 2020, and face masks became mandatory in town. On December 8, 2020, the provincewide law came into effect, and face masks have been part of Albertans day to day interactions since that time.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic related to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while public health restrictions are being lifted across Alberta effective tomorrow, health officials say that COVID-19 isn't completely in our rearview.