Masks are now required in apartment common areas
Condos, hotels and motels also included in city’s bylaw amendment
St. Catharines residents are now required to wear masks in their apartment building lobbies, elevators and other common areas in a move to further reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The addition to the city’s mask bylaw was passed by city council unanimously Tuesday and took effect immediately.
But city council also directed staff to get the word out that some residents can’t wear masks and shouldn’t be picked on after hearing delegations from two residents who said they’ve been harassed and others who contacted their councillors.
“There are just some cases where people can not wear the mask, and they’re not doing it because they don’t want to, they’re doing it because they just physically can’t,” said Grantham Coun. Dawn Dodge.
“This happens to some people and you shouldn’t have to be feeling that when you go out somewhere you have to defend yourself against people coming up because they have a fear they’re going to get sick from you because you aren’t wearing a mask.”
The World Health Organization says COVID-19 is spread through
contact with infected persons through mouth and nose secretions, along with indirect contact through contaminated objects and surfaces. People can transmit the virus even if they don’t have symptoms.
City council adopted its mask bylaw for enclosed places open to the public in July. Regional council adopted a similar bylaw later that month.
Those bylaws for enclosed public spaces didn’t cover places such as apartment buildings, because they are typically not public spaces that anyone can enter.
City council held a public meeting Tuesday and unanimously expanded its bylaw to include common areas of apartments, condos, hotels, motels and other accommodations.
That includes masking up when going into the lobby, elevators, meeting rooms, restrooms, laundry rooms, gyms, kitchens and other spaces.
The move was made after a motion was put forth last week by St. Patrick’s Coun. Karrie Porter, who said she brought it forward because of requests from residents who didn’t feel safe in the common areas of their apartment buildings.
Other municipalities have included common areas of apartments in their bylaws, including Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Mississauga, Ottawa, Brampton, Waterloo Region and Durham Region.
Resident Cheryl Frame spoke against the addition to the bylaw, telling councillors she has health issues and is being treated like a criminal when she has to go to a store because she’s not wearing a mask.
“I only see people harassing me wherever I go and store owners and places of service terrified that I’m in their store because they’re afraid they are going to get fines,” she said. “So they’re running me out of their stores. My life has become anxious.”
Frame said she has rights, too, and there needs to be more provisions in the bylaw that clearly spell out the need to respect the rights of people who can’t wear masks.
Merritton Coun. Lori Littleton said she’s had people reach out to her, too, who said they are facing discrimination because they are not able to wear a mask.
“Whether it’s outright or it’s the side glances, it’s that body language that makes folks in our community not feel as though they can be fully participating in our community,” she said.
Mayor Walter Sendzik said he would address the issue through regional council with the director of public health.
The city’s mask bylaw has been superseded by a recent Ontario-wide masking order by the provincial government.
Karena Walter is a St. Catharinesbased reporter, primarily covering city hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com