Visitors to all city facilities and riders on all GOVA transit buses will be required to wear a face covering of some kind as of today (July 8), as per the directive from Public Health Sudbury & Districts, the city said today. But when it comes to retail locations, business owners in Greater Sudbury are not required to turn a customer away who refuses to wear a mask, though they are required to have a clear policy in place.
All public transit and business owners and operators in Sudbury and districts must have policies in place to stop people from entering if they are not wearing a face covering. These instructions were issued under the authority of the provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to ramp up efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We continue to have very few new cases in our community, and the requirement for face coverings in indoor establishments will keep us on this track,” said Mayor Brian Bigger in a news release. “I want to thank our local businesses for helping keep our community safe, and recognize residents for their individual contributions to keep each other safe and healthy.”
Signage stating the requirements for face coverings will be in place on all GOVA Transit buses and at all publicly accessible city facilities.
Face coverings or non-medical masks, which can include a scarf or any material covering the mouth and nose.
A face covering will be required will be required when entering and attending any of the following city facilities:
- When boarding and riding GOVA Transit, GOVA Plus and GOVA Zone
- The downtown transit terminal or a bus shelter
- Tom Davies Square and/or 199 Larch Street
- Recycling Depot front counter
- Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter
- When a member of the public is obtaining city services indoors or in-person and physical distancing is not possible or challenging.
Public Health Sudbury has provided a list of instructions for face covering usage, including exemptions, which can be found here.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe spoke with Sudbury.com’s northern health reporter Len Gillis this week about the face covering directive. You can read that story here.
She said businesses must have a policy in place regarding the use of face coverings, physical distancing and personal hygiene for hand cleaning.
To be clear, the health unit is continuing with its “good faith framework” of education and reminders when it comes to face coverings, but there is no requirement that a business turn a customer away who refuses to cover their face. Public Health has left that up to individual business operators.
“Commercial establishments are expected to use their best efforts to implement their face covering policies,” Public Health said on its website. “This means that signs and verbal reminders are used, but there is not a requirement that a business must turn away the customer.”
Employers have a responsibility, Public Health continued, to maintain two metres distance between employees and clients, to screen employees and members of the public for COVID-19 symptoms, and to promote hygiene practices including handwashing.
Sutcliffe released a video on Tuesday explaining the rationale for the use of face coverings. You can watch that video below.
Residents who wish to make a complaint regarding a business who does not have a system in place to stop people from entering when not wearing a face covering/non-medical mask, can call 311.
Complaints regarding individuals in businesses not wearing a face covering or non-medical mask should not be reported, as exemptions exist. It is the responsibility of the commercial establishment to ensure they are in compliance with Public Health instructions.
