Middlesex-London’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Chris Mackie, has issued two Section 22 Class Orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that will require that face coverings be worn at personal care service establishments, and on buses, taxis and ride shares. The Orders will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 20th, 2020.
The first Order applies to personal care service establishments in London and Middlesex County, including services relating to the hair or body, such as hair salons and barbershops, manicure and pedicure and aesthetician services, piercing services, tanning salons, spas and tattoo studios. Under the Order, all customers, clients, employees and visitors will be required to wear a face covering, such as a medical or non-medical mask, bandana, scarf or cloth that covers the mouth, nose and chin, for the entire time they are inside the business.
The second Order will require everyone who rides on public transit vehicles, in taxis or other commercial vehicles for hire, including ride shares and shuttlebuses, to wear a face covering the entire time they are in the vehicle. Face coverings include medical and non-medical masks, bandanas, scarves or cloth that covers the mouth, nose and chin.
“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,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “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 Orders apply to everyone over the age of 12 who is a client, customer, employee, or visitor to a personal care service establishment; or who operates or rides on a public transit vehicle or commercial vehicle for hire. Failure to comply with these Orders can result in fines of up to $5,000.00 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.
For more information about these Orders, please visit https://www.healthunit.com/section-22-class-order. For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-617-0570 (cell)
Spokesperson:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit