Face Coverings

Fit of face coverings/masks

Non-medical masks or face coverings should:

• fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops
• maintain their shape after washing and drying
• be made of at least two layers of tightly woven material (such as cotton or linen)
• be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping

Face coverings will not protect you from getting COVID-19, but will protect others from your respiratory droplets. The best way to protect yourself is to:

• minimize errands to a single trip where possible
• avoid close contact with others and keep at least two metres from others outside your household
• wash your hands regularly (or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available)
• practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette (for example, sneeze and cough into your sleeve and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth)

How to properly use face coverings

When wearing a face covering, you should:

• wash your hands immediately before putting it on and immediately after taking it off (practise good hand hygiene while you are wearing the face covering)
• make sure the face covering fits well around your nose and mouth
• avoid moving the mask around or adjusting it often
• avoid touching the covering while using it
• not share it with others

Face coverings should be changed when they get slightly wet or dirty.

Remove or dispose of face coverings

When removing a face covering, you should:

• throw it out into a lined garbage bin
• wash your hands

Do not leave any discarded face coverings in shopping carts or on the ground.

Cleaning

If the face covering can be cleaned, you should:

• put it directly into the washing machine or a bag that can be emptied into the washing machine
• wash with other items using a hot cycle with laundry detergent (no special soaps are needed), and dry thoroughly
• wash your hands after putting the face covering into the laundry

All face coverings that cannot be cleaned should be thrown out and replaced as soon as they get slightly wet, dirty or crumpled.

For more information, please read the Public Health Ontario (PHO) fact sheet.

Can I wear a face shield?

Summary dos and don’ts

Do:

• wash your hands immediately before putting on and immediately after taking off a face covering or face mask
• practise good hand hygiene while you are wearing the face covering
• make sure the face covering fits well around your nose and mouth
• avoid moving the mask around or adjusting it often
• avoid touching the covering while using it
• change the face covering or face mask when it gets slightly wet or dirty

Do not:

• share face coverings or face masks with others
• place on children under the age of two years or on anyone unable to remove without assistance or who has trouble breathing
• use plastic or other non-breathable materials as a face covering or face mask
• Medical masks, including surgical, medical procedure face masks and respirators (like N95 masks), must be kept for health care workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

How To Wear a Face Covering Poster

This information has been provided by the Government of Ontario.

 The Face Covering By-law exempts the following persons:

• a child who is five years of age or under;
• a person who is unable to put on or remove a face covering without assistance;
• a person with a medical condition or other disability that inhibits their ability to wear a face covering, including persons who are reasonably accommodated pursuant to the (Ontario) Human Rights Code by not wearing a face covering;
• employees or agents of the owner or operator of any enclosed public place within or behind a physical barrier or within an area designated for them and to which the general public is not invited;
• any paramedic, fire fighter or police officer acting in the course of their duties.

A person who refuses to wear a face covering shall identify if they are a person who is exempt from wearing a face covering when asked by an operator or owner or any person charged with enforcing this By-law but shall not be required to provide proof of any of the exemptions.

The following places shall not be included as an “enclosed public place” for the purposes of this By-law:

• an enclosed public place that is owned or operated by or on behalf of the Provincial or Federal Government;
• universities, colleges and schools;
• hospitals, independent health facilities and offices of regulated health professionals; and
• that portion of any indoor area of a building that is accessible only to employees, including, without limitation, private offices, board rooms, washrooms and facilities that are not open to the general public.
• As of August 11, 2020, County of Brant Council voted to also include churches and places of worship, provided the congregation has and follows an effective COVID mitigation/risk reduction plan that reviewed and approved by the County of Brant.  A Mitigation/Risk Reduction Plan is only required to be submitted for approval to the County of Brant if churches/places of worship are seeking to have members of the congregation (including staff and volunteers), remove their masks within the enclosed space beyond the prescribed exemptions. (ie. medical, children age 5 years or younger).

For the purposes of this By-law, an “enclosed public place” shall mean the indoor areas of any of the following establishments, buildings or facilities that are located in the County of Brant and are open to the general public, meaning the public is, in the ordinary course, invited or permitted access to such establishments, buildings or facilities whether or not a fee is charged or a membership is required for entry:

• stores and other establishments that sell or offer to sell food, beverages, consumer products, vehicles, equipment or other goods;
• restaurants, bars and other establishments that sell or offer to sell food or drink to the public for on-site consumption or take-out, with the exception of the patrons while consuming food and drinks in the seating areas therein;
• establishments that provide or offer to provide services, including but not limited to professional, counselling, personal care, funeral home, transportation, repair and rental services, to the public, with the exception of services related to child care and day camps, care for the elderly and persons with disabilities;
• shopping malls;
• libraries;
• lobby areas of commercial buildings;
• common areas of hotels and motels, such as lobbies, elevators, stairs, meetings rooms, or other common facilities therein;
• laundromats;
• concert venues, theatres, casinos and cinemas;
• fitness centres, gyms and other recreational and sports facilities;
• arcades and other amusement facilities;
• premises utilized as an open house, presentation centre, or other facility for real-estate purposes;
• museums, galleries, historic sites and similar attractions;
• municipal buildings; and
• public transit vehicles, such as Brant eRide, operated by The Corporation of the County of Brant.

• an officer or inspector with the Ontario Provincial Police, Brant Detachment;
• a municipal law enforcement officer or by-law officer appointed by the Council of The Corporation of the County of Brant; and
• other person as designated from time to time by the Council for The Corporation of the County of Brant.

The County of Brant will be taking an education-first approach and asking residents to comply with the bylaw. We are appealing to residents’ willingness to cooperate and the idea that wearing face coverings will protect eachother.

Should you have any questions or concerns about compliance with this bylaw, please email COVID-19@brant.ca or call 519.44-BRANT or 1.855.44-BRANT from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

The Face Covering bylaw will support business owners who operate in enclosed public spaces to require face coverings from their staff and patrons and gives them authority to not permit people into enclosed public places without a face covering.

Every person who is the owner or operator of an enclosed public place shall post clearly visible signage noticeably at all entrances to the enclosed public place containing the following text in a minimum font size of 24 point.

The County of Brant has created the following signage: Face Covering Poster for businesses

Signs are also available at the Burford (26 Park Ave., Burford) and Paris Customer Service Office (66 Grand River St., N, Paris) for businesses to pick up - Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Businesses have the right to create additional standards over and above the County of Brant's bylaw pursuant to the Trespass to Property Act and their responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  These are Provincial Statutes and therefore, the County of Brant cannot provide comments or advice as they are beyond the regulations we can enforce.

Should your business have any questions, please contact a member from our Economic Development team:

• Email: invest@brant.ca
• Tel: 519.449.3300 ext. 3028 OR ext. 3045

The by-law ends at next regular Council meeting (August 11) and will be placed back on the agenda for consideration to continue at each regular council meeting.