Quebecers faced the prospect of hefty fines if they do not wear a face mask in places the province has deemed it mandatory due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police can hand out tickets ranging between $400 and $6,000 to those who do not have a face covering in indoor public spaces or on public transit.
The province announced its intention to introduce fines earlier this week, with a ministerial decree being adopted. The decree specifies that a face mask or covering is understood as a “mask or tightly fitting clothing that covers the nose and the mouth.”
The premier stated earlier this week that the fines were aimed at those in the minority who were not following the rules, but they would not apply to anti-mask protects primarily held outdoors.
The fines for individuals are similar amounts to those that business owners faced when the province brought in mandatory face masks for indoor spaces in July.
Face coverings have been mandatory on public transit and in indoor public spaces across the province since July, but enforcement in indoor public spaces was initially left to business owners.
The province announced several measures this week in addition to the fines, including the banning of karaoke and obliging bars to keep registers of clients. The moves came amid concerns about rising infection numbers in recent days.
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-face-mask
https://www.livescience.com/are-face-masks-effective-reducing-coronavirus-spread.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-coverings-information.pdf