Wearing masks will be mandatory Saturday in all public establishments
Wearing masks will be mandatory Saturday in all public establishments
The Québec government introduced a new measure making masks mandatory in all indoor public establishments as of July 18.
As it stands, people 12 and over must wear a mask or face covering in indoor public places, including retail stores and grocery stores throughout Quebec.
“I strongly support the decree issued today by our Premier François Legault, and I know that we will be able to prevent the second wave of the virus. I encourage everyone in the Pontiac to wear a mask, we must continue to protect our vulnerable region and population. “- Jane Toller, Warden of the MRC Pontiac.
Faced with a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases across the province and a resurgence of community transmission, the government decided to impose mask in indoor businesses, as announced Monday afternoon by the Premiere Legault.
As of Saturday, store owners will be responsible for imposing masks to its customers, under penalty of law, which could see the company receiving a fine ranging from $ 400 to $ 6,000. François Legault, however, clarified that citizens will also be subjected to fines in August.
As of Saturday, a citizen who chooses not to comply with this new directive will not have access to the establishment.
Thus, a person not wearing a face covering will be prohibited from entering the following locations:
-Retail stores;
-Service companies (pharmacies);
-Professional private practices;
-Municipal or government services centers;
-Personal care companies (hairdressers, beauty treatments);
-Shopping centers;
-Places of worship;
-Cinemas, concert halls, etc.
-Venues (congresses and conferences);
-Common areas in establishments, in particular office buildings (entrance halls, elevators and corridors);
-Schools (with the exception of primary and secondary schools), colleges and universities;
-Public transport.
However, wearing a mask is strongly discouraged for children under the age of 2. For children between 2 to 12, wearing a face cover is highly recommended, but is not mandatory.
The Premier also reiterated, during his press briefing, that private gatherings, whether they take place indoors or outdoors, must always be limited to a maximum of 10 people. “Homeowners who allow gatherings of more than 10 people are liable to citations. It is not true that we are going to put all of Quebec at risk because of a few people, ”he said.
It also remains highly recommended in outdoor public places when physical distancing is not possible.
To learn more about COVID-19 and the various measures implemented by the Government of Quebec: québec.ca / coronavirus or listen to the press conference report here.
