Mandatory Mask or Face Covering Bylaw
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
at 1:26:25 PM Wearing a mask or face covering will be required in indoor public spaces beginning July 7, 2020 under City of Toronto By-Law 541-2020 . The mask or face covering should cover your nose, mouth and chin, without gapping. Wearing a mask or face covering is an additional measure we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep each other 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.
Communicating in the age of coronavirus can be tricky, even before adding masks into the equation. With the mask bylaw now in effect, here are some tips to keep the conversation flowing while wearing a mask.
Keep it simple
Keep the conversation simple when it comes to engaging others. It's better to use shorter, everyday phrases and words to get your point across. Rather than repeating the words that others may have missed or not understood, it's recommended to rephrase them.
Speaking louder
Speaking at a regular or slightly lower pace. You may want to speak a bit louder, though not necessarily to a point of yelling. There is no need to over-enunciate. Just speak naturally.
Body language
Use body language — from hand gestures to body postures — to convey and accentuate emotions.
The nonverbal elements help provide cues and gauge “the feelings, sincerity and intent” of people you’re trying to communicate with.
Eye contact
With smiling not being an option, there's a lot of information "contained in the eyes." In addition, eyebrows can also be used to communicate your thoughts and feelings. Maintain good eye contact while speaking.
Use pen and paper or phone
When (muffled) words fail, have a pen and a paper ready if required, or type the words out on your phone and show the screen while still maintaining a safe distance.
|
