OTTAWA -- Residents and visitors at condominiums and multi-unit residential buildings in Ottawa will soon be required to wear a face mask in all common areas, including the elevator, lobby and laundry room.
A report for Wednesday's Council meeting recommends amending Ottawa's Temporary Mask Bylaw to make masks mandatory in common areas at condos and apartment buildings in Ottawa.
Council passed the temporary face mask bylaw on July 15, making face masks mandatory in all indoor public places. Under the bylaw, you must wear a mask at
- Restaurants and other eating and drinking establishments
- Retail locations
- Places of worship
- Sports facilities
- Museums, theatres and other entertainment venues
- Public areas in hotels and other short-term rental premises
- Public areas in hospitals and other health facilities
The mandatory face mask bylaw also applies to City of Ottawa buildings and facilities, including libraries. On June 15, face masks became mandatory on all OC Transpo buses, the O-Train, in stations and on Para Transpo vehicles.
In a letter dated Aug. 6, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches issued a correspondence to multi-unit dwelling managers and owners, landlords, condominium corporations, and residential building management companies, with a strong recommendation to implement mask policies in common areas.
In a report for Wednesday's Council meeting, Emergency and Protective Services General Manager Anthony Di Monte and Dr. Etches write that in accordance with the "strong recommendation" to implement face masks policies in apartments and condos, staff propose amending the Temporary Mandatory Mask Bylaw to require that:
"Persons entering or remaining in the enclosed common areas of condominiums and multi-unit residential buildings be required to wear a mask."
According to the proposed changes to the Mandatory Mask Bylaw, the common areas in condos and multi-unit residential buildings means an "interior shared space or amenity," including:
- Entrance
- Lobby
- Laundry Room
- Elevator
- Gym
Staff say the bylaw will require building operators to post signage at every entrance to the premises advising of the mask requirement. Building operators must also ensure the availability of alcohol-based hand rub at all entrances.
If approved by Council on Wednesday, face masks will be mandatory in all common areas of condos and multi-unit buildings immediately.
On Twitter, Councillor Theresa Kavanagh said she's been pushing for mandatory face masks in condos and apartment buildings since the bylaw was first implemented in July.
"It was the missing link in keeping residents living in multi residential buildings safe."
Councillor Jeff Leiper says he will support the move, and expects it to pass unanimously.
"People have been describing to us the fear that they have about going into common areas in their buildings, elevators, into laundry rooms," said Leiper on Sunday.
On the streets of Ottawa Sunday afternoon, there was mixed reaction to the mandatory face masks in condo and apartment common areas.
"I do support it. I think when we're talking about matters of public health, the bare minimum is wearing a mask at this point," said one person.
But another person disagreed with the idea, saying, "if they ask me to do it, I would say why, first and foremost, and I would say no because it's part of my house."
Mandatory face masks until at least Halloween
The City of Ottawa will make face masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces, city facilities, condos and apartment buildings until at least Halloween.
The report recommends Council extend the expiry date for the Temporary Mask Bylaw until Oct. 31. The bylaw is currently set to expire on Aug. 26.
The report from Di Monte and Dr. Etches says the additional two months allows staff to conduct a periodic review of the bylaw over the period, and lines up with the end of patio season.
Between July 15 and Aug. 19, Ottawa Bylaw officers issued one charge and 167 warnings for violating the Temporary Mandatory Mask Bylaw. The city has received 473 service requests related to the bylaw.
