Niagara Regional Council has passed an amendment to the face-covering by-law to include common spaces, like lobbies and elevators, in apartment buildings and condominiums in response to the second wave of COVID-19.
The temporary face-covering by-law requires that residents in the Niagara Region wear face coverings in indoor and enclosed public spaces. This by-law was passed in July and extended on Sept. 17 to remain in effect until April 1, 2021.
Exemptions to this by-law include:
- Children under the age of five
- A person who is unable to wear a face-covering due to a medical condition or a disability
- A person who is unable to remove the face covering without help
- A person who would have their breathing inhibited or restricted by wearing a face covering
- A person while consuming food or drink provided by a business that is permitted to operate
- A person receiving services involving the face
- A person engaged in sport or other strenuous physical activity
- A person while helping or accommodating another person with a hearing disability
- Individuals working in an enclosed public space that isn’t open for public access
- Individuals working behind a physical barrier
There is no requirement to prove these exemptions.
More information on this by-law can be found on the Niagara Region website.
Residents can also call Niagara Region Public Health’s COVID-19 Info Line at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074, and press 7.