The city of Ottawa is making masks mandatory on and around skating rinks, but the masks will not be required while people are skating.
At 5 PM Wednesday, people must wear a mask within a 15-meter distance of the edge of the ice surface, but masks are not mandatory while you are skating.
In a memo to Council, Emergency and Protective Services General Manager Anthony Di Monte outlined new rules for mandatory masks around outdoor rinks under the Temporary Mandatory Mask Bylaw.
A person who enters or remains on outdoor ice-skating rinks operated by the city of Ottawa or on the city’s behalf, including publicly accessible areas that are within a 15-meter distance of the edge of the ice surface, should wear a mask in a manner that covers their mouth, nose, and chin.
Masks will be mandatory for every person entering or remaining on outdoor ice-skating rinks operated by the City of Ottawa beginning at 5 PM on December 30 until January 28, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Under the mask by law, there are exemptions:
- Young children
- Persons with medical or cognitive conditions
- Persons engaged in athletic/fitness activity
- Outdoor rink operators when performing rink maintenance when the public is not on the surface of the ice rink.
In a tweet, the city stated that to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, masks are now required around all outdoor refrigerated and community skating rinks. Skaters not from the same household must keep two meters apart on and off the ice.
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Learn more about face masks and how to stay safe by enrolling in a mask fitting test which is a requirement for many workspaces and schools or the available masks for sale by visiting our face mask sale page.
Our courses maintain social distancing measures with reduced class sizes to maintain the minimum 2 meters apart along with the mandatory use of face masks and regular temperature checks. The venue of the courses undergo regular, enhanced cleaning and disinfection routines.
For more information about face masks, check out these sources:
Johns Hopkins Medicine: Coronavirus Face Masks – What You Need to Know