You can add taxis and Uber vehicles to the list of places where masks will have to be worn before the end of the month.
The Middlesex London Health Unit announced Tuesday that two Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act have been issued by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie. The orders were discussed last week by Mackie, who said that the order would be issued this week and take effect on July 20.
The first order requires masks to be worn in businesses in which staff and customers are within two metres of each other for 15 minutes or more. These businesses include those that offer services related to hair or the body, like barber shops, hair salons, tattoo studios, spas, tanning salons, and nail salons. Anyone who works in or goes to one of these establishments will have to wear a mask that covers their nose, mouth, and chin.
The second order relates to transportation. Dr. Mackie announced last week that the order would require anyone going on an LTC bus to wear a mask. The health unit said Tuesday that masks will also be required in cabs and in ride share vehicles.
“The reopening of our region has made it more challenging to maintain physical distance in some settings and businesses, increasing the potential for people to come into close contact for periods of time that can lead to a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission,” Mackie said. “These Orders are being put in place to reduce the likelihood of outbreaks of COVID-19, as we have seen in other Ontario communities, even where the rate of illness was otherwise low.”
The Section 22 orders apply to everyone over the age of 12. According to the health unit, failing to comply can lead to fines of up to $5,000 for each day the offence occurs or continues.
Businesses that fail to comply can be fined up to $25,000 for each day on which the offence occurs.