BANFF – An investigation is underway into a Banff hotel accused of violating health orders on mandatory masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town of Banff officials say the municipality received a complaint from a hotel guest about a hotel operator putting up notices in rooms advising guests they did not have to wear masks in public areas of the hotel.
Silvio Adamo, the Town of Banff’s director of emergency management, said the Town is working with the local health inspector on the complaint, which the municipality received via an action request on its website.
“We are following up with that hotel operator ensuring they understand we cannot circumvent the provincial health orders and allow people to not wear masks because they’re in a hotel lobby or in a restaurant,” he said, adding the Town would work with Banff and Lake Louise Hospitality Association (BLLHA) to ensure all hotel operators knew the rules and requirements.
The Town of Banff and Alberta Health Services did not disclose the name of the hotel operator.
Under Banff's mask bylaw, non-medical masks are mandatory within enclosed publicly accessible spaces as well as outdoors in the downtown core and Banff Avenue. Provincial rules also require masks be worn in all indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and places of worship.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said she was alarmed to hear of this individual hotel’s actions.
“My experience for the past year is that all of our businesses have been very conscientious about following the regulations,” she said.
“Hotels, which have been open since the beginning of the pandemic, have been great at paying attention to the regulations," she added.
“This one situation we’ve heard of is alarming, but I’m grateful that it is being investigated so that education can be reiterated.”
Officials with AHS said health inspectors responded on Tuesday (March 9) to a complaint by a member of the public about a lack of COVID-19 safety practices at a Banff hotel.
"The focus of the concern was on inconsistent use of masking among staff, and not requiring guests to use masks if they preferred not to," said Kerry Williamson, a communications spokesperson for AHS.
After speaking with a health inspector, Williamson said the operator of the hotel has indicated he will revise the policy of this business so that it meets both local bylaw and requirements set out by the province’s chief medical officer of health (CMOH).
"It was emphasized to the operator that it is imperative that CMOH public health directives are followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – including mandatory masking in every indoor public space," she said.
"EPH will conduct a follow up visit at this business to ensure public health is being protected."
Officials with BLLHA reiterated the importance of all organizations continuing to be vigilant in adhering to the health restrictions identified by all levels of government.
“The health and wellness of residents, workers and visitors has been, and remains, the highest priority,” said Darren Reeder, BLLHA’s executive director.
Reeder said the association applauds the business community as a whole for the hard work that has brought the region to its current standing with such low cases.
“We will continue to do all we can to support the sharing of updated information on health guidelines so all businesses remain informed,” he said.
As of Tuesday (March 9), there was one active COVID-19 cases in Banff and Lake Louise. There have been a total of 450 cases in the national park since the pandemic began.
Province-wide, there were 4,470 active cases as of March 9. There are 263 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 37 in intensive care.
So far, Alberta has identified 659 variant cases – 646 of the U.K. variant and 13 cases of the South African variant.
Adamo said Banff continues to be encouraged by the drop in active cases in the region.
“With the variants of concern continuing to increase (in the province), clearly we must continue to do everything we can to keep our community safe until we can get everyone vaccinated,” he said.
On the vaccination front, three Banff pharmacies and Alpine Medical Clinic have applied to Alberta Health Services to administer vaccines.
“We encourage all Banff residents to go online to the Alberta vaccination website regularly to stay up-to-date on continually changing eligibility and booking information," Adamo said.
As of March 8, two people were staying in isolation rooms at the Banff YWCA, with six rooms available at this time.
To date, the YWCA has assisted 77 individuals for a total of 673 nights to date in safe and supportive isolation, with the Banff Centre housing 14 people for a total of 77 nights during the short period of time it was up and running.
“I would like to thank our emergency social services team and YWCA and the Banff Centre for stepping up and assisting those individuals,” Adamo said.
In the meantime, Adamo encouraged residents and visitors to keep following all health orders and protocols.
“We still have several months before we get enough people vaccinated to create herd immunity,” he said.
“We all still need to do our part to keep the variants of concern at bay in this community and keep our vulnerable protected and keep our economy going.”
At the end of November, Banff reached a peak of 192 active cases.
“This community has learned the hard way back in December and the small spike we had recently,” Adamo said. “We absolutely cannot let out guard down.”
