Police have charged a man who allegedly harassed and assaulted a woman wearing a “medical mask” on a TTC bus earlier this month.

The 24-year-old woman was riding the 75 Sherbourne bus near Bloor Street West around 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 when a man allegedly began insulting her over her decision to wear a mask, police said in a news release Tuesday.

When the woman tried to take a photo of the man, police accuse him of grabbing her as he attempted to pull the camera away from her.

Toronto police issued a news release last week with a photo of a man taken on the bus as part of their investigation.

Michael Hennessey, 46, of Toronto, was arrested Friday and charged with robbery, assault, attempted theft and mischief.

It’s not clear why she was wearing the mask and police wouldn’t say whether they believe the incident was racially motivated, saying they didn’t want to release any information about the victim.

There have been an increase in the number of people wearing masks on the streets of Toronto over fears of the novel coronavirus epidemic in China. Canadian health officials say that wearing surgical masks during everyday life has little use in protecting against coronavirus, despite being effective in hospital settings.

Hennessey is scheduled to appear in College Park court March 31.