Who is exempt from Quebec’s mask law and why some may not be complying

On Saturday, wearing masks became mandatory in all indoor public spaces across Quebec.

The regulation applies to everyone aged 12 and up, but the government says people with specific medical conditions can be exempt.

Experts say there are few people who qualify.

“In early June, the Canadian Thoracic Society — a professional association made of thoracic medicine specialists — came out and very clearly said there are no medical conditions they are aware of, for which there is any evidence that wearing masks exacerbates them,” said Dr. Matthew Oughton, infectious diseases specialist. “So this pertains to people with chronic lung disease — things like asthma or chronic restrictive pulmonary diseases.”

READ MORE: Quebecers are respecting mandatory mask rule to contain coronavirus spread, deputy premier says

Oughton says people with physical or intellectual disabilities could be exempt, for example, if an individual doesn’t have the ability to put on and take off their mask.

But he says at the end of the day, it boils down to trying to change someone’s habits and a society’s culture, which isn’t always easy.

Psychologist, Pierre Faubert says, there are a variety of reasons why some people are reluctant to wear a mask — some may believe that their rights are being violated, while others may believe because the virus is invisible, it’s not real.

“Anything that will impede our breathing can be seen as a threat to our lives,” said Faubert. “So some people may feel very justified for all kinds of reasons — maybe being claustrophobic for one, or in a situation where they were unable to breathe.”

READ MORE: Protesters march against mandatory masks outside premier’s Montreal office

On Saturday, police were called to intervene inside a Montreal Tim Hortons, after a man refused to wear a mask.

In the four-minute video that went viral on social media, it shows police pepper-spraying and then tackling the man to the ground, when he refused to leave or co-operate.

Montreal police (SPVM) spokesperson André Durocher said the man involved in the incident was being charged with obstructing an officer.

Over the weekend, the SPVM received 103 mask-related calls.

“About 45 per cent of them were to denounce a situation they thought was questionable,” Durocher said, adding the incidents were either resolved or ended before police were needed.

Only in the case of the Tim Hortons did officers have to intervene to enforce the new rule.

On Monday, Quebec’s deputy premier said the vast majority of Quebecers seem to be respecting the rules — but there were still calls made to police about those who did not comply.