As the province opens up the economy in select regions as part of phase 2, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s medical officer, Dr. Nicola Mercer is issuing additional orders.
Starting Friday (Jun. 12), Dr. Mercer is ordering all commercial establishments in the region to prohibit persons who are not wearing face coverings from entering their establishment.
Individuals are exempted from wearing a face covering on the premises if:
a. The person is a child under the age of two years;
b. Wearing a face covering would inhibit the person’s ability to breathe in any way; or
c. For any other medical reason the person cannot safely wear a face covering.
Public Health’s definition of a “person” is any customer, patron, employee or visitor, who enters the establishment.
And a “commercial establishment” is defined as a commercial premise used for the purposes of offering goods or services to members of the public and includes a mall or other structure containing a number of commercial premises.
Offices that are closed to the public but still have employees working out of them, are exempted from the order — as are outdoor facilities, such as restaurant patios, according to spokesperson, Danny Williamson.
When asked if the order is in anticipation of GTA customers travelling to the local region for services still under lock down as their region is still not permitted to enter phase 2, Williamson issued the following reply in an email to myFM News:
“The decision was made specifically in response to the Provincial Phase 2 announcement and how it affects our region. It wasn’t specifically put in place due to concerns that people will come from the GTA. It’s certainly possible that they will, but they will need to comply with the order. That will help protect both residents of Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph, as well as visitors.”
If businesses fail to adhere to the order, they can be fined $5000 upon each offense.
