Niagara Regional Council voted Thursday to extend Niagara’s temporary face-covering by-law, which was set to expire on April 1, 2021.
The by-law requires masks in all enclosed public spaces in Niagara and aligns with orders issued by the province under the Reopening Ontario Act.
The by-law will automatically expire when provincial requirements are no longer in effect. Council’s decision to extend the bylaw recognizes the continued importance of following public health measures – such as physical distancing, proper hand hygiene, and wearing a mask in public – in order to limit the spread of the virus while Niagara’s vaccination effort continues.
Residents are reminded that the by-law includes a number of exemptions for individuals who are unable to wear a mask due to disability under the Human Rights Code. Many disabilities are invisible, and there is no requirement to prove an exemption. No one should face discrimination because they’re unable to wear a mask.