Guelph mall employee coughed at after asking shopper to wear mask: Police

An employee of a store at Stone Road Mall in Guelph was coughed at after they asked a shopper to put on a mask, police say.

The interaction happened Friday at about 1:30 p.m., police said. That's the same day a new order came into effect from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health that everyone going into stores must wear a face covering of some kindandthe area wasallowed to enter Stage 2 of the COVID-19 recovery.

Police say the male customer coughed in the direction of the store clerk as he left the store, then left the mall.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Ian Smith 519-824-1212, ext 7125 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

There have been other instances of people coughing or spitting at store employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In one case, a man was charged with assault after a cashier at a Zehrs in Guelph was spat on.