Montreal to make face masks mandatory in indoor public spaces

Face masks are going to be mandatory for all people in Montreal visiting enclosed public places.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante made the announcement on Monday afternoon, citing July 27 as the date the mandated masks will take effect.

“We have witnessed the emergence of some outbreaks in the suburbs of Montreal, which could undermine the efforts we have been making since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Plante in a Facebook post.

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Plante says the new guidelines will apply to “all enclosed public places” and that Montreal will follow the lead already put in place by other Canadian cities affected by the pandemic.

Nous devons tout mettre en oeuvre pour nous protéger. C’est pourquoi j’annonce que la @MTL_Ville travaille sur un règlement qui rendra obligatoire le port du couvre-visage dans les lieux publics fermés. Pour plus de détails: https://t.co/xSyax1uoYx #polmtl pic.twitter.com/4zolNzbOGs

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) July 6, 2020

Plante said the move was encouraged by many local business owners she spoke with throughout the pas few weeks.

She urged Montrealers to voluntarily start wearing masks immediately to get used to the new guideline.