Effective Friday July 17, employers in Huron and Perth Counties will be given formal instructions to require the use of face coverings in all commercial businesses.
Huron Perth Public Health said that the instructions are being issued by the Medical Officer of Health under the authority of the provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
Dr. Miriam Klassen the Medical Officer of Health for Huron and Perth counties said the announcement means that business owners will need to implement a policy for the use of non medical masks or face coverings.
This includes the expectation that people coming into a business will also wear a face covering.
There will be certain exemptions to the new rules for medical conditions, but for the most part face covering will be required in places like retail and convenience stores, malls, enclosed farmers markets, and business offices with space open to the public.
HPPH says that employers are expected to use their best efforts to enforce the policy with things such as signs, and verbal reminders, but businesses are not required to turn away people who do not wear face covers.
Dr. Klassen said in a statement “Normalizing the use of masks helps reduce this risk and helps keep businesses and services up and running. We ask everyone to be kind and understanding when others can’t wear masks, and to physically distance from them.”
