200804 COVID-19 Task Force NOTESThe Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
COVID-19 Task Force
August 5, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Electronic Meeting
NOTES
Present: Karen Devolin, Merley Wheaton, Councillor Gilvesy, Larry Scanlan
Staff: Laura Pickersgill, Legislative Services Coordinator; Colleen Pepper, Marketing &
Communications Officer
Regrets: Joe McGuire, Emma Dew, Deputy Mayor Beres, Abbie Boesterd, Roxanne
MacMillan, Councillor Rosehart
5. General Business & Reports
5.1 Communications
Colleen noted that there is regular content being pushed out on Facebook. Advertising
on youth programs available at the community centre and museum are being promoted.
The Mayor’s bulletins are posted on Tuesdays and Fridays and live video updates are
being done on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.
Members noted that the importance of wearing masks and being kind to one another
remains to be important. Problems can arise as business owners are not allowed to
ask anyone not wearing a mask if they have a medical condition prohibiting them from
wearing a mask not. Members noted that more messaging on the three important
mitigation techniques of hand washing, mask wearing and social distancing needs to be
continually promoted. Individuals need to understand that you can still retract the virus
even if you have a mask on and it is important that social distancing still takes place
despite masks. Messaging on masks not being mandatory in outdoor settings may be
beneficial. There is growing frustration among the public with not everyone cooperating
with wearing a mask. Concerns were noted regarding the case numbers increasing in
and around our community. It was noted that asking people to change their behaviour
can be a very challenging task to defeat.
The Tillsonburg public library will be fully reopening in the coming weeks.
There is a picture diagram circulating around on Facebook that contains invalidated
information about the virus.
It was mentioned that there has not been official research done on the effectiveness of
cloth masks yet but it would also be impossible to ask every member of the public to
wear an N95 mask as there is not enough availability of these masks.
Other municipalities have made exemptions under their municipal by-laws to exempt
children for up to an older age from wearing masks. It was discussed that more harm
than good could be caused to young children wearing masks as they often touch their
faces. Concerns were noted that the age of mandatory masking in the letter of
instruction is two in our region which is not consistent with neighbouring regions.
It was noted that Heart FM did an interview with the Oxford County Warden Martin who
indicates that municipal by-laws may be redundant at this point when a letter of
instruction overrides municipal by-laws.
5.2 Letter of Instruction- SWPH
It was noted that there are three ways mandatory masking could be made mandatory
from Southwest Public Health. A section 22 order, a municipal by-law or a letter of
instruction could be made. It was mentioned that a section 22 order would supersede
any municipal by-law made.
The letter of instruction can be enforced by municipal by-law officers, public health
inspectors and police officers. Larry noted that the police are taking an educational
approach to compliance at this time rather than providing enforcement. Larry will follow
up with the Commander on clarity for this. Larry noted that police could enforce
someone trespassing if they are asked to leave a business. An individual who doesn’t
identify with a medical condition and states they just chose not to wear a mask could be
asked to leave the business and would therefore be trespassing if they did not comply.
Laura received clarification from Southwest Public Health that a section 22 order can
only be enforced by public health inspectors. A letter of instruction was issued at this
time to allow for a collaborative approach on enforcement from police officers and by-
law.
Laura has circulated the information provided by Southwest Public Health on face
shields versus face coverings.
5.3 Child Care Options
Members discussed that schools and daycares will be reopen for full capacity in the fall.
There is a lot of hesitation among parents at this stage to send their children back to
school or not due to safety concerns.
It was suggested that an online survey could be done in the fall to get parent’s feedback
on their needs of their family for local child care options.
It was also suggested that babysitting courses be made readily available for older
teenagers to take.
7. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be called upon by the Chair.