Brampton city council approves mandatory mask bylaw

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Published July 9, 2020 at 4:05 pm

Yesterday (July 9), following the advice of Peel Public Health, Brampton City Council passed the Brampton COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings By-law, which will remain in effect until October 1, 2020

Yesterday (July 9), following the advice of Peel Public Health, Brampton City Council passed the Brampton COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings By-law, which will remain in effect until October 1, 2020.

The City will be distributing one million non-medical masks to residents to support the community in this step.

They will be mailing three masks to every household in Brampton.

Beginning on Friday, July 10, non-medical masks or face coverings will be required in all indoor public spaces in Brampton to help stop the spread of COVID-19. 

This temporary by-law will require public establishments and businesses to ensure that masks or face coverings are worn in indoor public spaces under their control. 

Spaces, where non-medical masks or face coverings will be required, include retail stores where goods and services are sold to customers, businesses that primarily sell food, including restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries and convenience stores, churches and mosques and other places of worship, except during a religious rite or ceremony conducted that is incompatible with the face being covered.

Additionally, they will be required in indoor community and recreational facilities, shopping malls or similar structure which contains multiple places of business, businesses providing personal care services, common areas of hotels and motels and other short term accommodations, libraries, museums, galleries, banquet halls, conventions centres, arenas and stadiums. 

They will also be required at concert venues, theatres, cinemas, casinos, premises utilized as an open house, presentation centre, or another facility for real estate purposes, on Personal Transportation Company Vehicles operating within the City of Brampton, buildings operated by the Municipality and other businesses and organizations and places that are or may be permitted to operate in accordance with the Emergency Orders.

Individuals and businesses not adhering to this by-law may be fined a minimum of $500 and a maximum of up to $100,000 for each offence.

The by-law will exempt certain individuals, including those who cannot wear a mask or facial covering due to medical reasons, children under the age of two, individuals engaged in an athletic activity in accordance with the Emergency Orders and individuals consuming food or drink at a permitted indoor establishment.

As of July 2, non-medical masks are mandatory on all Brampton Transit buses and at terminals.

Wearing non-medical masks or face coverings is one of four core preventative actions outlined by Peel Public Health.

The three other actions are staying apart, washing hands or using hand sanitizer and getting tested if you think you might have COVID-19 or have been exposed to it.

“As we’ve heard from our public health officials, mandatory masks are an integral part of stopping the spread of COVID-19. To continue to move beyond this virus, we are ready to take all necessary precautions and it is why the City will be distributing one million non-medical masks to Brampton residents,” said Mayor Patrick Brown.

“I am encouraged by the collective approach to mask-wearing across the GTA, and know that our residents in Brampton will continue to do their part in prioritizing and protecting the community’s health and safety.”

Additional information can be found at brampton.ca/masks.

For the latest updates on the City of Brampton’s response to COVID-19, visit brampton.ca/COVID19.

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