Ontario ready to drop mask requirements
KRISTIN RUSHOWY, ROBERT BENZIE AND ROB FERGUSON
Ontario is set to drop most mask mandates — including in shops and restaurants, as well as all elementary and secondary schools on March 21, the Toronto Star has learned.
The announcement, expected Wednesday, signals another move by the province to return to as close to normal as possible after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore will announce the move at 11 a.m. at Queen’s Park, sources familiar with the change told the Star.
The change is possible because of current trends, including lower hospitalization and ICU rates as well as booster shot uptake. However, Moore indicated last week that masking in hospitals, nursing homes and transit would likely continue, and has advised those with other risk factors to keep wearing face covers.
Even though a new sub-variant has appeared and is more contagious than Omicron, it has not caused an increase in hospitalizations so far.
Moore has warned caseloads are likely about 10 times higher than the limited PCR testing indicates, meaning that Tuesday’s 1,208 case count is actually closer to 12,000.
On Tuesday, 246 patients were in intensive care with COVID — more than 80 per cent of them admitted because of COVID, with the other 18 per cent admitted for other reasons and later testing positive. In total, 779 people were in hospital with COVID, although less than half were admitted for it.
Premier Doug Ford, who is in Brantford Wednesday morning to make a local health-care announcement, has said he wants the mask mandate gone “as soon as possible” and had suggested post-March Break would be a good time.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce was asked about masking rules on Tuesday.
“We are very committed to keeping the school system as safe as possible,” he said at the Ontario Science Centre. “We are committed to gradually lifting measures with the full support of, and following the guidance of the chief medical officer of health” with the goal to “create more normal classrooms for these kids.”
It is also widely expected that schools will end cohorting — or grouping of students — and possibly daily active screening.