TORONTO – Later this month, the mandatory mask requirement in most settings in Ontario will be a thing of the past.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, announced on Wednesday morning that the mandatory mask mandate will be lifted for most settings, including schools, beginning March 21.
The masking mandate will remain for public transit, long-term care/retirement homes and other health care settings, congregate care settings, jails and shelters.
“With the peak of Omicron behind us, Ontario has been able to cautiously and gradually move through its reopening milestones,” said Moore, noting the majority of public health and workplace safety measures have now been lifted.
According to data presented by Moore, COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased 81 per cent compared to the peak of Jan. 16, and new hospital admissions have decreased 79 per cent during that time. The data shows an average of 390 new admissions per day the week of Jan. 10-16, with last week’s average dropping to 82 new admissions per day.
ICU admissions have also dropped 77 per cent during that time period, and the per cent positivity rate has dropped from 34.3 per cent on Jan. 2 to 12.07 per cent last week.
“We are now learning to manage and live with COVID-19 for the long-term. This necessitates a shift to a more balanced response to the pandemic and changes are being made to province’s pandemic response to reflect a longer-term approach,” said Moore.
“Thanks to our high vaccination rates and natural immunity, as well as the arrival of other therapeutics and antivirals, Ontario has the tools necessary to manage the impact of this virus.”
Moore said that individuals may choose to continue wearing a mask after March 21, and asked that Ontarians respect those that do.
Moore also noted that we should be prepared for the return of mask wearing if a new variant of concern emerges, or potentially during the winter months “when COVID and other respiratory viruses are likely to circulate again.”
“For those most vulnerable to the virus, it is still strongly recommended that you continue to wear a mask. And please continue to respect the masking requirements that remain in place, such as federal requirements for returning international travellers,” said Moore.
With the lifting of mask mandates, Moore said we can expect certain public health indicators, such as cases and hospitalizations, to increase slightly “as Ontarians increasingly interact with one another.”
“Removing the mask mandate does not mean the risk is gone. COVID-19 transmission is still occurring across the province and masks can help protect you and others from becoming infected with COVID-19,” he said.
Moore also announced changes to isolation requirements on Wednesday.
Now, members of a household where someone has tested positive for COVID-19 no longer need to isolate, as long as certain requirements are met. Those over the age of 18 with three doses, those under 18 considered fully vaccinated, or those who have previously tested positive within the past 90 days may leave the home as long as they are showing no symptoms. Currently, those individuals have to isolate for five days.
The complete list of changes announced by Moore can be read at Ontario.ca.
Liberals, teachers’ union speak out against decision
The Ontario Liberal Party and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) were quick to speak against the province’s decision to lift the mask mandate.
In a press release on Wednesday, ETFO President Karen Brown said the decision to lift the mask mandate was made due to the approaching provincial election, not based on science.
“Throughout the pandemic, Ontarians have relied on public health officials to lead with a science- and evidence-based approach. Unfortunately, it appears that a fast-approaching June election is influencing politicians’ decisions to lift COVID-19 safety measures,” said Brown.
“Lifting the mask mandate too soon may result in further disruption to in-person learning and negative impacts on the health and safety of ETFO members, students, and their families. Ontarians deserve stability and safety, not more chaos.”
The ETFO cited a recent statement from Ontario’s Children’s Health Coalition (OCHC), which stated that “now is not the time” to lift the mask mandate in schools.
“As leaders in children’s health, we know that masking is an important layer of protection to prevent COVID-19 and has prevented widespread transmission in school settings. While there have been recent calls to remove this public health measure, now is not the time,” stated the OCHC.
Ontario Liberal Party Leader Steven Del Duca also spoke against the decision, saying Premier Doug Ford “just doesn’t learn from his mistakes.”
“Today, 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.
“He’s got it wrong again. I side with Ontario’s top children’s health experts who urged Doug Ford that ‘now is not the time’ to lift the masking requirements in schools.”
Del Duca cited low vaccination rates in children age 5-11 (29.4 per cent), absence rates at Ontario schools (14 per cent this week), and reduced testing capacity while positivity rates remain above 10 per cent as reasons why masks should remain.
“While I accept the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s advice that Ontario should end mandatory mask restrictions outside of higher-risk, essential public services and areas later this month, I am drawing a line in the sand on our schools,” he said.
“I simply do not accept the argument that our kids’ schools are not higher-risk areas and essential, and the experts agree. We must wait a couple more weeks to make sure our kids will be safe.”
