Businesses take variety of approaches on N.B.'s first day without COVID rules

Businesses and organizations were taking varied approaches Monday to the end of New Brunswick's mask mandate.

At least one plans to keep a mask requirement for limited hours, while another is asking — but not requiring — customers to wear them, and another plans to let staff and customers do whatever makes them feel comfortable.

"We're not here to judge whether you're wearing a mask or you're uncomfortable," said Luc Doucet, CEO and executive chef at Black Rabbit, a restaurant in Moncton. "We're here to make everyone comfortable.

"So we'll, we'll definitely keep the cleaning protocols and everything we were doing before on hand, but for our staff, I think for the masks and all those things, that will be kind of the individual's decision if they wear them or not."

The mask mandate is just one of a handful of COVID-19 restrictions the New Brunswick government dropped as of Monday, including gathering limits for formal and informal events, and isolation requirements for those who test positive.

The end of the mask mandate means businesses and organizations no longer have to require their clients to wear them, but they still have the authority to keep the mask rule, or some version of it, if they choose.

With the end of the province's mask mandate, the Fredericton YMCA has introduced a policy of its own, which it says is aimed at people who might feel uncomfortable using the Y around those who aren't masked.

From 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day, mask use will be mandatory, said president and CEO Darcy Delaney.

"Through some member feedback, we made the decision to set aside a 90-minute period each day to accommodate members who felt more comfortable or felt comfortable staying at the gym if other members were asked to wear their mask while they're in public spaces that are common, and while not actively exercising," Delaney said.

Delaney said 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. was chosen as it's a period when more of the YMCA's older clientele tend to visit the Y.

The 90-minute period will also benefit the members of its Stay Strong program, which is designed for cancer patients who want to stay active during their treatment, he said.

"We're looking at a segment of our membership that could potentially be immunocompromised, or the risk of contracting COVID-19 or any virus might have more ill adverse effects on them," he said.

"It gives people an hour to come in and exercise with 15 minutes on each end to get changed and get ready to either start their exercise program or to finish their exercise program."

Delaney said there has been some negative feedback about the decision, but this has been largely outweighed by supportive feedback.