PARRY SOUND, ON-With the third phase of reopening coming into effect, the Mayor of Parry Sound is encouraging everyone to continue to stay safe.
In an interview with MyParrySoundNow, Mayor Jamie McGarvey says they are still working to ensure the region is ready, referencing one of a recent meeting in which the council passed the mandatory mask by-law, which will become nullified when the health unit releases it’s own on July 24th.
“We are certainly hoping people will respect that (mandatory masks) as well as physical distancing, and we are relying on everyone to conduct themselves in a manner that not only protects themselves but everyone around them.”
When asked if he felt if the third phase was being introduced too early, McGarvey notes he believes people are ready for the next step.
In order to do this safely, however, we must be cognizant of each other so that we can avoid a second wave of the virus.
“We don’t want to go back into restrictions, and the onus is really on every individual. We want businesses to succeed, we want to make sure they can do that, so make sure you are wearing a mask in an enclosed public space.”
McGarvey also added that he felt sorry for people who have been difficult in accepting the new mandatory mask by-law, saying “they are just not getting it.”
He elaborated – saying the masks are not just about the individual and noted he was “getting tired of the ‘me’ people” who only seem to care about themselves rather than what others need to do to keep safe.
“You need to be cognizant of the people around you and make sure they are safe so that they can enjoy themselves and understand that it is not all about you, it is about everyone around you. You need to make sure that you are safe, and they are safe, and you can have a lot of fun without trying to push your way through and believe that you are the only individual that counts. That is what ends up happening with these naysayers, that they are putting an attitude out there that basically says that I don’t believe in what’s going on.”
McGarvey concluded at the end of the day, we each need to realize that it is about us and how we can keep people safe.