The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has laid the area’s first “mask charges” under COVID-19 provincial regulations
By-law enforcement officers laid two charges on Friday, December 11th. The Municipality says individuals were not wearing face masks in required indoor public spaces as required under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
The charges carry an $880 fine and were laid at businesses in communities across Chatham-Kent.
Under the legislation “The person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person in the indoor area of the premises of the business or organization, or in a vehicle that is operating as part of the business or organization, wears a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin during any period when they are in the indoor area.”
The charges stem from multiple complaints received by the municipality regarding various establishments not enforcing the mask regulation.
Bylaw enforcement officers will continue enforcement of the provincial regulations throughout the community.
