Edmonton’s mayor says city council will vote on introducing a local mask mandate for public transit if the Alberta government moves forward with plans to lift the safety measure next week.

       Come Monday, the province is expected to drop the province-wide requirement for masks to be worn on public transit, including ride-hailing vehicles, motor coaches and shuttles.

       Mayor Don Iveson says he expects council to vote yes to extending a masking mandate if the decision is put to them on Monday as COVID-19 cases continue to spike in Alberta.

       Another 550 cases of the virus were reported Thursday, bringing Alberta’s active case count to 4,101.

       The single-day spike is the highest recorded since late May.

       Iveson says the masking bylaw wouldn’t necessarily extend to school buses, but trusts school boards would make decisions to protect the safety of their students and staff.

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