Norfolk County has joined the ranks of municipalities across the Country implementing their own mandatory mask bylaws.
As of August 3rd, Operators of Enclosed Public Spaces will need to adopt the bylaw to ensure that no member of the public may enter or remain inside without a mask or face covering.
The bylaw defines an Enclosed Public Space as a place where goods or services are available in a building that’s accessible by the public.
However, some businesses are exempt, including things like daycares, child care facilities, schools, private and public transportation, hospitals, independent health facilities and buildings with services offered by the municipality or provincial or federal government.
Councillor Chris Van Paassen, one of two Councillors who voted against the bylaw, felt leaving it up to businesses was taking the easy way out.
Norfolk County CAO Jason Burgess explained that unless businesses were acting in bad faith, the goal was to educate.
Children under the age of two, or between the ages of three and five who can’t be made to wear a mask are exempt.
The bylaw also excludes people with any underlying medical conditions which may prevent them from wearing a face covering and people who may not be able to remove a face covering without assistance.
Employees who can maintain six feet of social distancing or are within or behind a physical barrier are also exempt.
So are paramedics, firefighters and police officers who are on-duty.
The bylaw also exempts “persons who are reasonably accommodated by not wearing a Mask or Face Covering in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code or where the removal of a mask is necessary to assist and accommodate a person in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.”
If a face-covering needs to be removed to access services (like eating or drinking at a restaurant), that is also permitted.
Apart from the exemptions listed, staff offering services are required to wear a mask while working in their “enclosed
public space.”
That being said, staff offering services or members of the public are not required to show proof of their exemption.
The bylaw means businesses will need to educate their staff on the new requirements and post signs for people entering the store.
Businesses who don’t follow the rules of the bylaw could be looking at fines of $1000.
Councillor Kim Huffman hopes the mandatory mask bylaw makes people feel less self-conscious about wearing masks.
Today’s bylaw is expected to be revoked at 12:01 am on October 20th unless extended by Council.