New city order requires masks to be worn at outdoor skating rinks

The City of Ottawa has issued a new order that requires anyone near city-run outdoor skating rinks to wear a face mask to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

The new rule was announced on Wednesday (full text of the order is below). Anthony Di Monte, the city’s general manager of emergency and protective services, said in a memo distributed to media that he issued the order on the agreement of Dr. Vera Etches, the city’s medical officer of health.

As a result of the order, anyone within 15 metres of the edge of the ice surface of a city-run outdoor rink must wear a face mask, subject to the exemptions:

• young children, persons with medical or cognitive conditions, persons engaged in athletic/fitness activity
• Outdoor rink operators when performing rink maintenance when the public is not on the surface of the ice rink