Effective Monday, non-medical masks will be required in public indoor spaces across Newfoundland and Labrador.
However, not everyone will be expected to don a mask.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the new measure is to help protect others in anticipation of a second wave of COVID-19 arriving in the province.
Individuals will be expected to wear a mask that covers both their mouth and nose while in public indoor spaces. That includes—but is not limited to—retail stores and shopping malls, in theatres, salons, on public transit, and the common areas of offices and post-secondary institutes.
Mandatory Masks. Subject to the exemptions set out below, all individuals shall wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth when in the following public indoor settings:
a. public transit, including buses, taxis, car services and public areas of
ferries;
b. a retail business;
c. a service company;
d. a professional’s private office, where physical distancing cannot be maintained or physical barriers are not in place;
e. common areas of an office building including lobby, elevators, reception areas, conference rooms, washrooms, and breakrooms;
f. a place where municipal or government services are offered;
g. a personal care business including hair salons, tattoo shops, tanning salons;
h. an animal daycare or grooming business;
i. a shopping mall or community market;
j. a place of worship;
k. a funeral home;
l. a theatre or performing arts venue;
m. a movie cinema;
n. an indoor entertainment business;
o. a rental room, community centre, or other venue used to host gatherings;
p. a sports-related clubhouse;
q. a community museum or historic site;
r. a bingo hail;
s. a fitness centre, dance studio or yoga studio;
t. an arena;
u. a place where sports or recreational activities are practiced;
v. a restaurant or lounge;
w. a common area, including an elevator, of a tourist accommodation establishment such as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, rental cabins or cottages; and
x. a post-secondary educational institution including colleges, universities and trades schools.
However, there are a number of exemptions. For example, children under five are not expected to wear a mask, nor are those with physical or mental health concerns that prevent their use.
Seated areas—such as those in restaurants and lounges—are also exempt as long as distance can be maintained.
Students are not expected to wear masks in classrooms where physical distancing can be maintained, but they must wear them in the common areas of their school and while riding the bus.
Mandatory Masks. Subject to the exemptions set out below, all individuals shall wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth when in the following public indoor settings:
a. Children under the age of 5;
b. People with physical or mental health conditions – People whose particular physical condition or mental health prevents them from wearing a mask;
c. During treatments, services or physical activity where a mask must be removed, for the duration of the treatment, service or activity only;
d. Showing identification;
e. Workplaces – Requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, as well as any workplace-specific health and safety plans, will continue to apply to workers. However, workers must wear their
mask when they are in a publicly accessible lobby, reception area, hallway, stairway, or elevator.
f. Seated areas – Individuals seated in the following places, provided physical distancing of two metres can be achieved between individuals or bubbles and provided they wear a mask when moving around in these places:
a. in the classrooms of a post-secondary educational institution,
b. in a place where activities or services of a religious, cultural, or entertainment nature are offered, and
c. in a restaurant, a food court, or a lounge
b. in a place where activities or services of a religious, cultural, or entertainment nature are offered, and
c. in a restaurant, a food court, or a lounge
You can view the special measures order on masks here.
(Stock photo.)
