Toronto’s top doctor says keep masking

The city’s top doctor says her best advice to residents is still to wear a mask as one way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially in crowded, indoor settings.

The latest guidance from Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, comes as she and other public health officials aligned their advice with the province’s decision to drop mandatory maskwearing in less than two weeks.

Toronto city council voted Wednesday afternoon to have the city’s own masking bylaw expire on March 21 — the same date the province announced earlier in the day for ending mask mandates in most places, including schools. Masks will continue to be required on transit, including the TTC, and in high-risk settings like in long-termcare homes until at least April 27.

The city’s masking rules were previously set to expire in early April, subject to any changes by council.

During the virtual city hall debate Wednesday, de Villa struck a different tone than Premier Doug Ford last month when he declared “we are done with it” about COVID-19 and restrictions.

“COVID is not over,” de Villa said. “Hence it is really important that we continue to use the tools at our disposal.”

De Villa encouraged residents to continue to wear masks for their own protection, “particularly in crowded indoor spaces with limited ventilation” along with vaccination, physical distancing and outdoor settings for gatherings, according to a report submitted by de Villa’s team on Wednesday.

The same report outlined how “Toronto is at a dramatically different point in the pandemic compared to when the mask bylaw came into effect” on July 7, 2020.

“The city’s mask bylaw was always intended to be time-limited and was enacted at a time when a citywide bylaw was required to manage the significant health risks posed by COVID-19 when there was either no vaccine or, later, when the population was only partially vaccinated.” Now, due to a high vaccination rate and declining trends in infection spread and hospitalizations, de Villa said the city can consider removing these rules “in concert” with the province.

There were lots of questions from council members for de Villa about her published recommendations following the provincial announcement.

Coun. John Filion (Willowdale), the only council member to vote against ending the city’s mask mandate early, expressed concerns about lifting the rules now.

“I think it’s too soon,” Filion said ahead of the vote.