Mandatory masks in N.L.: Here's when you'll need them, and when you won't

Newfoundland and Labrador will make wearing non-medical masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces beginning Monday.

How will that look? Think of any business, office building, place of worship or gathering place, and you'll likely need to be wearing a mask in common areas.

Masks willbe required while using public transit, which includes buses, taxis, car services and common spaces on ferries.

For office buildings, masks will have to be worn in common areas such as lobbies, elevators, reception areas, conference rooms, washrooms and break rooms.

Municipal andgovernment service buildings will require masks as well.

Personal-care businesses including hair salons, tattoo shops and tanning salons and animal daycares or grooming businesses will require a mask.

Masks will be mandatory in common areas such as elevatorsin hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, rental cabins and cottages.

All shopping malls, community markets, retail stores,community museums or historic sites, rental rooms, community centres and other venues used to host gatherings will also require masks.

Masks are also required in funeral homes.

Exemptions to the rule, sort of

There will still be some public areas where masks won't be required, but under certain conditions.

Inbars, restaurants, places of worship and entertainment venues masks will be necessaryuntil seatedand as long as there is two metres of physical distancing space between bubbles. People willstill have to wear a maskwhile moving around those spaces.

In fitness centres, dance studios and yoga studios masks will be required until a workout begins and worn again after the workout. The same rule applies for arenas and sports practice facilities when working out. Masks are mandatory in sports-related clubhouses.

If you are receiving treatment that requires you to take off your mask at a dentist, or a facial treatment at a spa you may do so for the duration of that treatment.

In K-12 schools andpost-secondary schools including colleges, universities and trades schoolsmasks will not have to be worn in classrooms but are required to be worn by students in Grade 7 and abovein commonareas such as hallways by all students on school buses.

Teachers and staff will also be wearing masks in classrooms, and in placeswherethey cannot physically distance, such asoffices or break rooms, moving between classes or preparing food in a cafeteria.

Actual exemptions

Children under five years old will not have to wear a mask.

Those whose physical condition or mental health prevents them from wearing a maskwill not be required to wear a mask. People in thesecircumstances are also notrequired to provide proof oftheir condition for privacy reasons.

Masks will not be mandatory during some medical treatments.

A mask can also be removed whenshowing identification.

Someworkplaces with their ownspecific health and safety plans will not require masks, along with those that fallunder the Occupational Health and Safety Act.However, thoseworkers must still wearmasks when they are in a common or public areas such aslobbies, reception areas, hallways, stairways and elevators.

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