Masks in Hamilton apartment buildings

Masks in Hamilton apartment buildings are now mandatory. Masks must be worn in common areas of condo and apartment buildings across the City of Hamilton. The city’s current mask bylaw requires residents to wear a mask in enclosed public spaces. This is new. Common areas in apartment and condo complexes were not previously required. Everyone must wear masks in Hamilton apartment buildings.

People who live in Hamilton highrise apartment buildings will be required to wear masks in elevators, lobbies, meeting/community rooms, laundry rooms and also areas commonly used by all residents. This acts as a precautionary measure.

Everyone must wear masks in Hamilton apartment buildings

In common areas of hotels and motels masks will be required. Hamilton, Ontario has included apartment and condo complex common areas in the mandatory face-covering bylaw. The amendment to the bylaw is effective immediately. Face coverings are now mandatory in public spaces inside condos and apartment buildings in Hamilton, Ontario.

The city’s board of health voted to include common areas in the mandatory mask bylaw. Anyone older than five and without a medical exemption has to wear a mask indoors in public. Hamilton’s mask bylaw, aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, has been in place since July.

Face Coverings and Masks By-Law |Hamilton highrise apartment buildings

Bylaw enforcement officers can fine people who don’t comply. Although given their limited staffing, the mask bylaw is mostly enforced on a complaint basis. But the change gives building managers more leverage to enforce the rules on their own.

Apartment and condo dwellers will now have to mask up when they leave their unit. Face coverings are now mandatory in the common areas of residential buildings. The bylaw puts the responsibility on building owners and property managers to adopt a policy to ensure masks are worn by their residents. Children and those who cannot wear a mask for a medical reason are exempt from the rule. A proper mask must cover your chin, mouth and nose all at once.

The city of Hamilton, Ontario website states the the following people may be exempt from wearing a mask in private residential buildings

• A child under the age of two
• A child at least 2 years in age but under the age of 5 years who refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver.
• People who have underlying medical conditions which inhibits their ability to wear a face covering
• A person who is unable to place or remove a face covering without assistance
• Someone who is an employee or agent of the operator and is within an area designated for them and not for public access, or is within or behind a physical barrier
• A person who is reasonably accommodated by not wearing a face covering. In accordance with the Human Rights Code, a person with a disability that makes it difficult to wear or communicate while wearing a face covering is excempt.
• Any person who is in a swimming pool 
• A person ctively engaged in an athletic or fitness activity.
• People attending a summer or day camp that is in an area not open to members of the public
• A person who removes the mask for the period necessary to receive services or treatment, including eating or drinking.
• A person who is sleeping or in bed at a homeless shelter
• Someone who states that one of the foregoing exemptions of this by-law applies to them is exempt from wearing masks in Hamilton apartment buildings.

Outdoor events

• If standing in an area of the space that is separate from the public attending the event, a person engaged in a public speaking event or conducting a ceremony can choose to not wear a mask. It is recommended that the person use a microphone to project their voice to reduce the risk of respiratory droplets being spread and not participate in any singing or chanting.  The person public speaking or conducting a ceremony should stand at least 2 metres from the people in attendance and if there is more than one public speaker. Space at least 2 metres apart from each other and not be facing each other.

Masks-in-hamilton-apartment-buildings

Not included under the new bylaw, are Private residential properties.   Some apartment and condo buildings choose to implement their own rules requiring masks in common areas. This includes places like lobbies and elevators. Posted city signage is available that states people should wear masks in Hamilton apartment buildings. 

In these uncertain times, we must all take extra measures to ensure each other’s safety. Wearing a mask can help save the lives of the older and also the immunity challenged people around us. Let’s all do our part to help create a positive outcome to this pandemic.