Ontario’s chief medical officer announced on Wednesday that the province is removing mask mandates on March 21 in most settings, including schools.
Masks will still be required in select settings such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes and congregate care settings until April.
The province is ending all remaining public health measures, directives and orders on April 27.
Dr. Kieran Moore says they are making the changes based on improving health indicators, such as a stable COVID-19 test positivity rate and declining hospitalizations, as well as Ontario’s high vaccination rates and the availability of antiviral treatments.
“With the peak of Omicron behind us, Ontario has been able to cautiously and gradually move through its reopening milestones,” said Moore.
Moore says masks will now be a choice, not a mandate.
Moore says the end of mandates does not signal that COVID has disappeared or the pandemic is over.
“What is means is that we have came to a place where we know what to do to manage this virus,” said Moore.
Even with the end of the mandate Moore is still encouraging those who are vulnerable continue wearing a mask in public settings.
“As a society, we must remain kind, considerate and respectful toward those who continue wearing a mask,” said Moore.
Moore admitted that he himself will continue to wear a mask indoors in high risk settings with a lot of people such as a mall or big box store.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca slammed the move by the Ford Government.
“Despite the clear and unequivocal advice of the province’s science table, and against the direct advice of the experts at SickKids, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences, and McMaster Children’s Hospital, Doug Ford decided to remove all mask requirements in schools,” said Del Duca in a statement.
Many experts had suggested waiting until two weeks after the March Break to lift mask mandates in schools.
NDP Andrea Horwath says lifting mask mandates should be science-based, not political.
Mr.Ford said that mask wearing will be a personal choice for all which sounds about right to me.
However, if Mr. Del Duca AKA the leader of the mini van party is just so upset & felt he needed “slam” this announcement, the next question is simple: Will he be mandating that his 7 MPP’s still have to wear a mask or will it be their own personal choice? Did any media outlet even ask him this?
Personally, I will still wear mine in most settings as it is my choice.
Surprised that teacher’s unions are against Ford’s announcement. NOT. What a bunch of covid hoarders; no just haters of anything Conservative. Abusing our children and grandchildren.
Great news!
Its time we moved away from this. To long we have let others decide for us.
For all the businesses out there, I know its your choice and I respect that, but if theres a mandatory mask sign on your door I’m not coming in, going to the competition.
Well as long as there is a choice, i’ll still be wearing mine. Everyone else, well that’s up to you. I know they say masks dont protect you, but they protect the others. But i dont care, i feel comfortable in mine
What’s their explanation for still not following data on the uselessness of cloth and paper masks?
I will be glad to see them go but I’ll respect the places that will still require them to be worn. Not a big deal to put one on, do whatever you have to do, then take it off after you leave but I’m sure there will be morons that will make an issue out of it just to show how immature and ignorant they are while out in public.
I’m cautiously optimistic, I’m hopeful its going to be alright. However, I’ll be wearing my mask in public until I’m satisfied that it’s safe. I wonder what the numbers will tells us 2 weeks after the end of the mandate? Will a Covid surge put us behind the 8 ball again? What will that do to Ford’s reelection plans.
yup, times is right, all will say “oh the election…cry cry… Ford is just a person, did the best he could with this all” nope, its time people. we all got divided on vax, no vax, now it doesn’t matter. if you’re no vax, then that’s your own risk and have to take your OWN precautions! right? like when you travel and need shots. Time to get back rockin’
Could not agree with @Jeff more. And as for @Dave 2, I guess I agree in the sense that if I see a place that requires them to be worn, I’ll just move on until I find a place that want my business. “It’s not a big deal to put one on …” Maybe. But it’s even easier to not put one on.
Masks protect and they do NO harm. Other school boards, colleges and universities keeping mask wearing in place for the time being. Kudos to them for putting student and board employee’s health first and science first instead of bowing to “INCONVENIENCE” and self serving POLITICS.
As well, I will ramp up my business to those places that require masks to support them and will stay away as much as possible from the many that won’t. What a selfish society we live in where we can’t even wear a mask to protect others around us. So sad!