Keep your distance as you talk politics, health officer says as federal candidates knock on doors

With a federal election now in full swing, candidates and their volunteers will be knocking on doors this weekend.

As they do, people may be hesitant to open their door, particularly during an impending fourth wave of COVID-19.

But Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo, says there are steps people can take to be safe while also talking about politics.

"If you don't know people, they're not among your family members or friends. You don't really know their immune status. Continue to practice physical distancing and continue to wear masks," Wang said during a media briefing on Aug. 13.

"It's the same principles we would apply if we go out in the general public and we don't really know who we would be around."

Indoor settings are riskier, Wang says, which means people may want to take conversations out to parking lots or driveways when possible.

Earlier this month, Associated Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rabia Bana said it's also up to campaigns to ensure the events they're hosting are following the rules.

Campaigns must ensure they are "following all those protocols whether they are indoors sticking to capacity limits, preferring outdoor venues, and maintaining all the protocols and precautions in order to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 and maintain safety for anyone in attendance," Bana said.

Voting done safely

Earlier this week, Canada's Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault said the federal election will be safe for voters.

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While Elections Canada won't require its more than 250,000 polling officers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, he said local polling stations will follow the public health measures set out by each province and region.

"If you look back at the last 18 months, we've had elections in Canada provincially and we've had territorial elections. There have been elections around the world. And there has not been outbreaks of COVID-19 as a result of in-person voting," Perrault said.

• Elections chief says voting will be safe despite lack of mandatory vaccine rule for poll workers
• Don't want to vote in person? Here's how to mail in your ballot

People who do not want to go to a polling station can opt to vote by mail, although given the expected influx of mail-in ballots, Elections Canada is warning people to apply for their mail-in kit early.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said earlier this month that a combination of health protocols and Canada's high rate of vaccination can protect voters at the polling booths.

"I think that there's definitely ways to vote safely," Tam said.