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Burlington City Council voted unanimously to enact a physical distancing by-law Monday to support efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

“Council considers the protection of health and safety of the public to be a paramount concern, and the direction for the proposed by-law comes from the City's Emergency Control Group,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

The city's by-law states that while on public property, no person shall stand less than a 6-foot distance to any other person that does not reside with them in a single household.

Upon conviction of an offence under this by-law, a person would be liable for a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum fine of $100,000.

“We must all act responsibly to ensure the health and well-being of everyone in our city,” added Meed Ward.

“It is my sincere hope that residents in our community will respect the repeated advice of healthcare experts and voluntarily maintain physical distancing so that no tickets need to be issued under this by-law. The longer we stay apart now, the sooner we can come together again.”

The by-law is expected to be in effect through the duration of Burlington's State of Emergency.