Non-medical face masks are becoming more prevalent and Saskatoon’s Mayor doesn’t think they will be going away any time soon.
Charlie Clark wonders what next fall will look like with students heading back to school, because at some point the city is going to have to increase ridership on Saskatoon Transit.
Monday is the first day of Phase 3 of re-opening the economy and more people are going out and getting on with their lives.
He believes we are going to have to get used to masks, but understands it’s an adjustment and it feels awkward at first.
It’s something he would like the City to provide guidance on, to build up the comfort with masks.
City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says, “When we look ahead over the next year, I think Saskatoon Transit and transit worldwide will have to look at how to return to getting back to full capacity in peak hours.”
He says using face masks is not something we have heard the last of.

Along with Phase 3 of the re-opening, Saskatoon Transit has reinstated bus fares and getting on the bus from the front, but with physical distancing still in place, full capacity is only 13 to 15 people as opposed to 40 to 60.
Phase 3 means restaurants, bars and lounges can open at 50 per cent capacity.
Gyms and fitness facilities, childcare facilities and places of worship can also open, subject to guidelines, and personal services not allowed to open in Phase 2 can begin providing services again, like tattoo artists, estheticians and manicurists.