中英对照：你对必须戴口罩的法律规定感到困惑吗？

（大中报/096.ca特稿）：2020年6月30日，多伦多市议会通过了541-2020号临时法规，要求市民在室内公的共场所戴口罩或其他面罩。

On June 30, 2020 Toronto City Council passed a new by-law #541-2020 to impose temporary regulations requiring the wearing of masks or other face coverings within enclosed public spaces.

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这一法规从2020年7月7日开始实行。口罩或面罩的定义是那些能捂住鼻子，嘴巴和下巴的东西。戴口罩或面罩是减少COVID-19病毒传染并确保所有人安全的一项新措施。这意味着，除非例外，所有进入室内场所的人都必须戴口罩或面罩。

In effect, wearing a mask or face covering will be required in indoor public spaces beginning July 7, 2020 under the by-law above. The mask or face covering should cover the wearer's nose, mouth and chin, without gaping. Wearing a mask or face covering is an additional measure taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone safe. This means that, with some exceptions, all customers or visitors entering an indoor premise are required to wear a mask or face covering while inside.



另外，这一法规对企业所有者和经营者也有要求。这些新要求看似简单，但对于在过去几个月因停止营业而准备重新开张或收入减少而苦苦挣扎的企业来说，这是一个额外的负担。

A list of requirements is imposed on business owners and operators. These new requirements may look simplistic but they are an additional burden to businesses who are just opening up after struggling under months of closures or income reductions in the last few months.

新规定列出了谁要戴口罩，雇员如何同客户打交道，员工培训以及谁可以不戴的细节。此外，所有员工，顾客都必须在室内戴口罩。但两岁以下的儿童和有病无法戴口罩的人，特定工作区域或工作环境已经被隔离的雇员除外。新法规的问题是，不戴口罩无需任何证明。换句话说，你只要声称有病无法戴口罩，你就可以不戴！另外，商家在门口必须贴告示，提醒大家戴口罩。违背新法规中的任何一项都将被罚款1,000元。

These include: A mask policy and communicate of this new policy to staff and customers; training of staff on the policy and who is exempt from it. Furthermore, all staff, customers or visitors must wear a mask indoors, with some exceptions (For example: children under the age of two and people with certain health conditions, employees in designated areas or protected by a physical barrier). However, proof is not required if someone has an exemption. Basically, they just have to claim a medical condition and it has to be accepted without question! Signage must be posted at all entrances reminding everyone to wear a mask and the consequences of an infraction is a set fine of $1,000 for each offence.



新法规中的有些要求有定义不清的问题，可能会引起曲解和争议。比如，在接受服务时或在锻炼或健身（例如游泳）时无法戴口罩或戴口罩会造成伤害时可以暂时摘下口罩。

There are details that are not properly defined and maybe open to interpretations and controversy. The bylaw allows for temporary removal of a mask or face covering when receiving services or while actively engaging in an athletic or fitness activity (for example swimming) that would make wearing a mask difficult or hazardous.

由于疫情期间逐步开放城市的第2步还是不允许在餐馆内部用餐，这使人们感到疑惑，为什么该法规要提“吃饭”时可以摘掉口罩来接受服务！我以为，用剪发时摘掉口罩做例子显然更好。

Since there will be no serving of food indoors at Stage 2 of COVID-19 recovery, it makes people wonder why the by-law uses the example of “having a meal” as justification for removing the mask to receive services! I can think of having a hair cut as a better example for removing one's mask to receive services instead.

另外，该法规不适用于以下场所，包括：学校；大专院校；幼儿设施；私人和公共交通工具（TTC有自己的章程）；医院，独立的卫生设施；卫生专业人员办公室；公寓楼和公寓，包括公寓的共用区域；室外（例如：餐厅露台）。

The bylaw does not apply to the following premises, even if they would fall under the definition of an establishment: schools; post-secondary institutions; child care facilities; private and public transportation (the TTC has its own bylaw); hospitals, independent health facilities; offices of regulated health professionals; apartment buildings and condominiums, including their common areas; an area that is not enclosed or indoors (example: restaurant patio).



新法规中不用戴口罩的人包括2岁以下的儿童（担心窒息的危险）；有生理疾病，精神疾病和神智不清的人；有听力障碍或与需要与有听力障碍进行交流的人，必须看口型才能进行交流的人；不向公众营业的企业；需要根据《安大略省人权法》提供住宿的人；只有雇员才能进入的区域或已经被隔离的区域里的人。

Exemptions are granted for: Children under the age of 2 (for fear of risk of suffocation); those with medical conditions, mental health conditions, and cognitive conditions; those that are hearing impaired, or are communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, and where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; employees and businesses not open to the public; people who require accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code; and employees within an area designated for them and not for public access, or within or behind a physical barrier.

不难看出，许多无需戴口罩的规定定义含糊，这让企业在培训雇员时留下了对新规定曲解和想象的空间。其中最大的问题是，商家无权要求对方给出不必戴口罩的证明。因此，任何人可以轻易找个借口不戴口罩，从而使该法规变成一张废纸。

As we can see, a lot of these exemptions are not properly defined and left to the interpretations and imaginations of the establishment who has to train their employees and implement the rules. The biggest issue is that businesses are not permitted to require proof that an exemption applies. Therefore, any opponent of masking wearing practices can simply claim to have a medical condition and render the by-law useless and ineffective.



还需要注意的是，根据该法规，塑料面罩不能替代口罩！由于戴口罩是城市的一项法律，可以想象，多伦多的执法人员将奔命于给那些不把戴口罩当回事的人开罚单。

It is also of note that a plastic face shield is not considered a face covering under this by-law and it is not an alternative to a mask! Since this masking requirement is a city by-law, one can assume that by-law officers will be kept busy issuing offence tickets when called upon to deal with arrogant people who refuse to wear masks regardless of the circumstances.

现在，其他城市也开始效仿多伦多。皮尔区和约克区的城市现在也对室内公共场所采取了类似的规定。在未来几周内，这些法规和细则的执行将面临挑战。立法的意图是好的，如果得到适当实施，可以挽救生命，减少痛苦。我们只能希望人们能对自己的行为负责，共同努力来防止疫情的扩大。

Other cities quickly followed the lead from Toronto. Peel Region and York Region cities now also adopted similar masking orders for enclosed public spaces. In the coming weeks, there will be challenges to face in the enforcement of these rules and by-laws. The intentions are good and if properly implemented, lives can be saved and sufferings reduced. Let us hope that people can behave responsibly and work together to flatten the curve on COVID-19 infections.