Toronto Wants To Extend Physical Distancing & Mask Bylaws Into The Summer

Both bylaws have been in effect since July 2020.
Physical Distancing & Mask Bylaws Should Stay Until At Least Summer 2021, Says Toronto
Shawn Goldberg | Dreamstime
Staff Writer

Keep your masks handy, Torontonians, because the city is looking at extending its physical distancing and mask bylaws for a few more months.

The temporary bylaws were set to expire at the beginning of February, but now Toronto wants to extend them until at least June 2021.

Editor's Choice: Multiple Ontario Schools Will Now Be Open For In-Person Learning This Monday

June 2021 Potential new end date for mask and distancing bylaws 

The new bylaw extension recommendation comes from Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, and it was announced via press release on Thursday.

The recommendation will go before Toronto's City Council at its next meeting on February 2, and city councillors will vote on whether to extend them or not.

The physical distancing bylaw became an official bylaw in April 2020, and it prohibits Torontonians from hanging out less than six metres away in parks and public squares.

The mask bylaw was first approved a few months later in July 2020.

It makes mask-wearing mandatory in all public indoor places, like retail stores, malls, libraries, and business offices open to the public.

Toronto also announced that the Medical Officer of Health will assess the bylaws on a monthly basis to see if they need to be extended, amended, or ended.

TorontoCanadaNewsNews
  • Cormac O'Brien
    Cormac O'Brien was an Associate Editor at Narcity Canada, covering all things exciting and trending about Canada. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Victoria, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper and was awarded the BCYNA Community News Scholarship for his writing. He was also the producer and co-host of Now On Narcity, Narcity's flagship podcast.

11 reasons why I won't return to Canada after moving to the US 10 years ago

And no, none of these are political.

This cozy village with cafes and snow-dusted hills is one of the most charming in Ontario

It's like stepping into a Hallmark film.

This Ontario beach with a 40 km silky sandspit is one of Ontario's most 'underrated' getaways

It's never too early to plan a summer escape.

This picture-perfect Toronto neighbourhood is the best spot to live in the city, locals say

Would you move here?

5 reasons why you need to pack up and leave Ontario for Calgary immediately

As an ex Ontarian, here’s why I chose to uproot my life.

Canadian passport fees are going up this month and you'll pay more to get the travel document

"Fees for travel documents will be adjusted each year to align with inflation."

This beautiful city 1 hour from Toronto feels like a slice of Europe, according to readers

It's the perfect spot for a day trip.

These are all the Canadian Girl personality types — and yes, you are one of them

Once in our life we will meet a strong-willed girl who's from Thunder Bay.

Gene-edited pork has been approved in Canada but labels aren't mandatory

It's the only genetically modified meat approved for sale in Canada.

Foreign affairs minister won't say if Canada views US strikes on Iran as illegal

UNESCO called the bombing a "grave violation of humanitarian law."