In less than a week on March 21, 2022, the province of Ontario will remove its mask mandate in most indoor public settings mandate that has been in effect within the Northwestern Health Unit since August 12, 2020, and since October 3, 2020, provincially.
Though concern has been raised on if the province jumped the gun on removing masks, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says it is the right time to end the mandate.
“I absolutely do,” said Rickford. “I don’t actually think that it’s ending I think what’s happening is people will have a choice and hope they will exercise that choice in a respectful manner,” added Rickford.
Masks will remain in hospitals, long-term care homes, congregate care settings, and public transit. But these settings will all be able to remove their mask mandates by April 27, 2022.
Businesses do still have the right to enforce masking if they choose or see fit.
“I think people will have to take one with them just in case. I think it’s time to move away from that. The science supports it, the Chief Medical Officer has been very clear.”
Though masks are no longer required Premier, Doug Ford and Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, 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.
The removal of masks was made possible by the decreasing COVID-19 trends and statistics and high provincial vaccination numbers.
On Saturday (March 12, 2022), Ontario reported only 722 people in hospital with COVID-19, which was the last time those numbers were reported. On Monday (March 14, 2022), 228 patients were reported in the intensive care unit (ICU) with COVID-19.
89.4 per cent of those aged five and older in the province have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 85.4 per cent are fully vaccinated, and 47.8 per cent has gotten their booster dose.
The province's first dose statistics are among the best in Canada right behind Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. The second dose number is third-best in Canada behind Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Though the third dose numbers aren't as high Ontario still ranks in the top five in the country.
Ontario was among many provinces to either announce or already have lifted their mask mandate.
Saskatchewan was the first province to ax their mask mandate along with all remaining public health orders on the morning of February 28, 2022. Alberta was right behind Saskatchewan ending their mask mandate a day later on March 1, 2022.
British Columbia followed suit and ended its mask mandate on March 11, 2022, just a day after being announced.
Quebec lifted its mask mandates in schools on Monday (March 14, 2022), with plans to eventually remove all remaining mask mandates at a later date.
Like Quebec, New Brunswick lifted its mask mandate for indoor public settings on Monday as well (March 14, 2022); a plan that Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to follow.
Tuesday (March 15, 2022), marked the day for the province of Manitoba to end its mask requirements and all other restrictions, with the exception of masking in long-term care homes.
The province of Nova Scotia will be lifting all COVID-19 restrictions on March 21, 2022.
There is still no word on when Prince Edward Island will remove all its public health measures. The province will move into Step 2 of its Moving On plan Thursday (March 14, 2022).
Also on March 21, Ontario 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.
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.