Before the end of July, transit riders as well as staff and customers at some businesses in London and Middlesex County will have to wear masks.
The Middlesex London Health Unit announced Thursday that Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie will issue an order early next week to force people on LTC buses as well staff and customers at businesses like hair and nail salons to be masked. The order will be issued under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. A news release from the health unit says the order will be issued on Monday, July 6 and come into effect on July 20.
“The most important risk at this point in the pandemic is that a person with COVID-19, if they are not careful, could generate a significant outbreak. If you are out in the community, keeping two metres apart is your strongest protection,” Dr. Mackie said. “Masks also have an important role.”
Beginning July 20, anyone getting on an LTC bus will require a mask. The order also applies to businesses in which workers are within two metres of a customer for more than 15 minutes, such as hair or nail salons. The order comes as other jurisdictions have mandated masks in all indoor spaces. However, it does not go as far. When asked why, Mackie said it's important to note that the health unit is strongly recommending that masks be worn in all public spaces. But he doesn't feel we've reached the point of forcing people to do so.
"The Health Protection and Promotion Act Section 22 Orders, and Class Orders in particular, are a very powerful tool and it's absolutely necessary to use that tool carefully," he said. "And so, the reason we're ordering this in those highest risk settings is because those are the settings that are most likely, in my opinion, to be associated with an outbreak even in the context of the very low spread of COVID that we currently have in the community."
Since the pandemic began, the Middlesex London Health Unit has reported a total of 627 cases of COVID-19. No deaths have been reported since June 12 and there have been 508 recoveries. When asked what would have to happen for the mask order to be extended to other types of businesses, Mackie said we would have to see five to 10 newly confirmed cases per day for a couple of weeks. He re-iterated that best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to maintain physical distancing of two metres.
Dr. Mackie was also asked why the order won't go into effect until July 20. He replied it's a matter of giving people time to acquire masks, but there's nothing preventing people who have masks to start using them.
"There's no reason to wait for anyone that's going into, working in or as a customer, any of these facilities. Wear your masks. That's the strong recommendation and it has been for a few weeks now," he said.
Dr. Mackie added this may not be the last order he issues under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.