Masks now mandatory in indoor public settings in KFL&A

Kingston’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore has issued a public health order making masks mandatory inside any indoor public setting. Mayor Bryan Paterson issued the announcement on YouTube on Friday, Jun 26, 2020. 

“That means masks will be required for going into grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, hair and nail salons, as well as community centres, houses of worship, libraries and inside buses and taxis,” the Mayor said.

He added that the move comes in response to the rise in the active number of cases seen in Kingston over the past few days, traced to a nail salon in the west end. Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health announced the outbreak on Thursday, June 25, 2020, originating at Binh’s Nail and Spa.

KFL&A Public Health is asking anyone who has visited the salon in the past 14 days to get tested for COVID-19, and to self-quarantine while they await the results. 

The mayor said the rise in cases is a good reminder to adhere to public health advice. “This rise in new cases was not unexpected,” he said. “But as a community, we can do better. Over the next year we’re going to see successive waves of new COVID-19 cases, but we can minimize their impact by making sure we stay vigilant — wearing masks, washing hands and practicing physical distancing.”