Face Coverings

Who is not required to wear a face covering under the amended Reopening Ontario Act regulations?

Under the amended Reopening Ontario Act regulations the following are exempt from wearing face coverings:

• Individuals under 2 years of age.
• Individuals attending a school or private school (except for certain age groups for which face coverings are otherwise mandated).
• Individuals attending child care programs.
• Individuals receiving residential services and supports as per the definition of “residential services and supports” in subsection 4 (2) of the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008.
• Individuals in correctional institutions, custody, or detention programs for young persons.
• Individuals receiving services that require the removal of their face covering.
• Individuals engaging in an athletic or fitness activity.
• Individuals consuming food or drink.
• Individuals performing or rehearsing for film, television, concert, or other artistic event.
• Individuals that have medical conditions that inhibit their ability to wear a mask or face covering.
• Individuals that are unable to put on or remove their mask or face covering without the assistance of another person.
• Individuals being accommodated in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
• Individuals being accommodated in accordance with the Human Rights Code.
• Individuals performing work for the business or organization, in an area that is not accessible to members of the public and are able to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others while in the indoor area.

Does my staff have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they are serving someone in an indoor area who is less than 2 metres from them? 

Yes. The O.Reg 364/20 (français) under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 requires that when providing services indoors, PPE must be worn by staff if:

• within 2 metres of another person who is not wearing a mask or face covering, and
• not separated by an impermeable barrier (e.g., plexiglass)

Protection of the eyes, nose, and mouth is required – goggles or face shields and masks. Cloth face coverings are not considered PPE.

Employers also have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable to protect their workers. Refer to Using masks in the workplace (English or français).

If distancing is greater than 2 metres, face coverings continue to be required indoors, with exceptions.    

What is the difference between the amended regulations and KFL&A Public Health’s section 22 Face Covering Order?

Under the new regulations all businesses and organizations require the use of face coverings indoors, with exemptions. Under the previous order face coverings were only required in commercial establishments.   

Individuals working behind a plexiglass or glass barrier are no longer exempt from wearing a face covering, unless the area is not accessible to the public and a 2 metre distance can be maintained from others.

The requirement for commercial establishments to ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand rub at all entrances and exits continues to be required under KFL&A Public Health's section 22 Face Covering Order.

What proof is required for an exemption?

What does face covering mean?

• A face covering means a medical mask or a non-medical mask, such as a cloth mask that has been purchased or made, that covers the mouth, nose and chin ensuring a barrier that limits the transmission of infectious respiratory droplets.

• Sew and no sew instructions to make non-medical masks and face coverings - Government of Canada - Instructions on how to construct your own face covering.
• STOP before entering you are required to wear a face covering (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health
• How to Safely Wear a Cloth Mask or Face Covering (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health
• How to Safely Wear a Cloth Mask or Face Covering - French (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health

Can I wear a face shield instead of a face covering or mask?

A face shield is not a substitute for wearing a face mask as it does not filter respiratory droplets. A face shield may provide additional protection for the wearer against droplets expelled from another person; however, these droplets may still be inhaled around the shield. Respiratory droplets expelled by the wearer may escape around the sides of the face shield, which therefore provides less protection to others. If you choose to wear a face shield, we recommend - if possible - to wear it in addition to a properly fitted cloth masks. 

Is a face shield a good alternative for someone who can't wear a mask?

Do I have to wear a face covering at the gym?

Wear a face covering whenever you can unless you are actively exercising or using the equipment. Continue to wear your face covering in common areas such as the lobby and change room.

Are face coverings required inside restaurants?

Face coverings can be removed while you are actively eating and drinking, but must be worn:

• When you enter and exit the restaurant.
• When you walk to your table.
• When you are waiting to order or for your order to arrive to your table.
• When you walk through the restaurant.
• When you go to the bathroom.

Do I have to wear face coverings in my apartment or condo building?

Face coverings are required in common areas of multi-unit residential housing if physical distancing cannot be maintained. 

In Kingston, the requirement for face covering in multi-unit residential housing is more restrictive under the City of Kingston’s Emergency Order Bylaw 2020-68. Face coverings are required in enclosed common areas regardless of the ability to physical distance. 

When should I take off my mask?

Ensure you wash your hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after removing your mask or anytime you wish to adjust your mask. You should take off your mask when: 

• You are safely able to (when physical distancing can be maintained) and the mask can be placed in a lined garbage bin if it is not reusable, in a paper bag for a short time while transporting it home or directly into the washing machine. 

• It becomes damp or dirty and you can exchange it for a new one if you are still in a situation where you need to wear a mask. 

 When I am wearing a mask, do I still need to stay 2 metres away from others?

Yes. The person responsible for a business or organization must ensure that physical distancing of at least 2 metres from others can be maintained. 

Face coverings are not required in areas that are not accessible to the public but, a physical distance of 2 metres from others must be maintained.

Why should I wear a face covering? 

• Face coverings are an inexpensive, acceptable, and non-invasive measure to help control the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 is spread through contact with the respiratory droplets produced by someone who is infected when they cough, sneeze, or even when they laugh or speak, including by individuals who may not have symptoms – known as being asymptomatic.
• Face coverings that covers your mouth, nose, and chin helps to prevent your respiratory droplets from your mouth and nose from reaching others or landing on surfaces.
• Face coverings are especially important in situations where you can't maintain proper physical distancing measures of 2 metres (6 feet), in commercial establishments.

How are the mandatory face covering requirements being enforced?

Both the business and the individual have a role to ensure compliance.

The person operating the business or organization is responsible to ensure that:

• People do not enter indoor premises without a face covering, unless the person has an exemption.
• Employees are required to wear PPE when providing services indoors within 2 metres (6 feet) of a person not wearing a face covering, if they are not separated by an impermeable barrier.

The person entering a business or organization that is permitted to be open must wear a face covering, unless exempt.

Failure to comply with Reopening Ontario Act regulations could result in a fine.

How can businesses or organizations adhere to the regulations?

• Post visible signage showing that face coverings are required
• Give a verbal reminder that face coverings are required
• Consider alternate ways to provide services to those who are not required wear a face covering while following physical distancing and hand hygiene requirements.  

How can I help my child wear a mask?

Encourage your child to wear a mask by the following:

Explain why

• Children watch, listen, and learn. Explaining the importance of mask wearing in simple terms can help them understand why wearing a mask is important. Allow them to ask questions and express their feelings.
• Young children are amazingly imaginative. Include a few cloth masks in their playtime and see what they come up with. Having masks present in their environment will let them become more comfortable to the look and feel of masks.

Give choices

• Consider letting your child choose their mask pattern or colour. Children like to feel independent and make their own choices. 

Include masks in imaginative play

• Young children are amazingly imaginative. Include a few cloth masks in their playtime and see what they come up with. Having masks present in their environment will let them become more comfortable to the look and feel of masks.

Set an example

• When heading out in public, show your child how you put on your mask and explain why you are doing it  (to protect those around you). Be a role model of the behaviours you are hoping to imprint on your youngest. Children absorb information so quickly and mirror behaviours they see, especially of their care takers.

How can I help provide face coverings for vulnerable people in our community?

How do I use, clean, and dispose of a face covering?

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

Face coverings should be changed when they get damp or soiled. The main reasons for changing a damp face covering are:

• moisture reduces filtration and allows droplets to pass through,
• self-contamination,
• harder to breathe through when it is wet, and
• skin irritation.

Do not share your face coverings with others.

When removing a face covering, you should:

• Throw disposable face coverings out into a lined garbage bin

• Wash your hands

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

Reusable face coverings must be cleaned frequently. If your face covering is damp or soiled 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 damp, soiled or crumpled. 

If a washing machine is not available, wash by hand using soap and warm to hot water. Allow to dry thoroughly.

How to Clean a Reusable Face Covering (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health

How to Clean a Reusable Face Covering - French (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health