The wearing of a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces is now mandatory in three local municipalities after an outbreak that resulted in well over 80 COVID-19 infections in the Montérégie region stemming in part from a teenage house party in Saint-Chrysostome in late June.
Ormstown, Saint-Chrysostome and Mercier have all taken preventive and obligatory measures in an effort to curb any further escalation of the outbreak and in response to increased traffic in local shops and a perceived slackening in respect of public health guidelines.
A resolution passed in Ormstown suggests the “physical health of each resident is at stake, as well as the health and economic vitality of our merchants,” while noting it is both reasonable and sensible to do everything possible to control the spread of the virus. The resolution requires the wearing of a face covering or mask in enclosed public spaces as well as the respect of social distancing measures, ideally of two metres between each individual unless from the same household. The municipality is requesting the full collaboration of store owners to ensure compliance with these measures until further notice. A public notice issued by the municipality of Saint-Chrysostome echoes such measures.
Julie Loslier, the public health director for the Montérégie region, said in a video posted to Facebook that the outbreak was “very worrisome.” The main reason for concern is that the virus was spread through community transmission, which essentially puts larger numbers of individuals at risk.
Loslier insisted that a person diagnosed with COVID-19 must self-isolate, and that it would be a good idea for parents to discuss with their children the public health measures in place. “When you are younger, you may be less worried about the consequences of COVID-19,” she said. “We have to do it for others, for our grandparents, for our parents, for customers if we are employed in a business, as they are more at risk of complications.”