The move to scrap Ontario’s mandatory mask mandate is causing some concern.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced on March 9 that the province’s mandatory masking mandate will end in most indoor public settings on March 21.
Masks will remain in hospitals, long-term care homes, congregate care settings and public transit. But these settings will all be be able to remove their mask mandates by April 27.
But Scientific Director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Dr. Peter Juni, has said removing masks in Ontario is ‘too early’, and noted the table’s members were not consulted prior to Ontario’s decision.
While responding to reporter’s question at a virtual event in Woodbridge, Ontario Premier Doug says he trusts in the advice of Dr. Moore to lead the province through the remainder of the pandemic.
“I’ve always listened to the recommendations from Dr. Moore. He has put our recommendations forward. I believe in him. He’s done an incredible job. He’s brought us this far all the way through the pandemic,” said Ford, noting Ontario is still behind many other jurisdictions in removing mandates.
“We’re going to continue to be cautious and always be cautious. But Dr. Moore says we’re at that point where people are going to have to determine if they want to wear a mask or if they don’t want to wear a mask,” adds Ford.
Meanwhile, the Children’s Mental Health Ontario organization, which operates across the province and within the region, is still encouraging all students and staff to keep masking in schools despite Ontario’s new recommendations, and if COVID-19 outbreaks were to return, masks could as well.
“Since we know that most cases of COVID-19 identified in schools originate outside of school, we would have preferred to see masks kept in place for two weeks after March Break so we could have assessed the impact of the broader re-opening of Ontario,” said the CMHO, in a prepared statement.
“Masks remain an important layer of protection as the pandemic continues and may be needed in communities with low vaccination rates and where there is a surge in cases. Masks also protect those most vulnerable, including high-risk, immunocompromised and fragile children.”
Although, CMHO did note that they have seen a decline in school absenteeism, COVID-19 outbreaks and pediatric hospitalizations over the past eight weeks. They also thanked students and staff for adhering to the province’s strict standards to help keep school communities as safe as possible.
Also on March 21, schools and child care providers will no longer be required to perform on-site verification of screening for all children, students, and staff. Children, students, and staff are still recommended to self-screen, but cohorting between students will also be eliminated.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford disagrees, saying the province is prepared to remove masks.
“Ontario is only in the position to lift our mask mandates because of our staged, measured and cautious approach to reopening, an approach that has been far more cautious than any other province. Ontario continues to outperform COVID-19 science table projections, and our hospitalizations remain incredibly low. The lifting of mask mandates signifies a return to normal, a return to getting life back to the way it was before, and I am delighted that we are now in a place to do that.”
Moving forward, Dr. Moore and Premier Ford are both recommending that those who feel most comfortable wearing a mask and those who are considered the most at-risk should continue wearing masks as they see fit.
“When it comes to masks, if someone wants to wear a mask, all the power to them. That’s going to be their option. However they feel about it, they’re going to make that decision,” says Ford.
“It’s going to be a choice, a choice of the people. If I’m going into long-term care to see my mother-in-law, I’m wearing a mask. If I’m visiting someone in the hospital, I’m wearing a mask. But people are going to have a choice.”
“I just encourage everyone moving forward to support each other, no matter if they’re wearing a mask or not. We’ve gone through a real challenge over these last two years. Let’s be united and respect each and every person’s decision,” Ford finished.
The Province of Manitoba plans to remove mask requirements and all other restrictions by March 15, with the exception of masking in long-term care homes.
Saskatchewan’s mask mandate and all remaining public health orders were removed on the morning of February 28, while masking in Alberta came to an end on March 1.
Quebec has announced a plan to lift their mask mandates in schools by March 14, with plans to eventually remove all remaining mask mandates at a later date.
New Brunswick announced that it would lift its mask mandate for indoor public settings by March 14; a plan that Newfoundland and Labrador is expected to follow.