Masks will be a thing of the past in a couple of weeks.
The province has announced that the mask mandate will end on March 21.
This will include indoor public settings, including restaurants, retail stores and schools.
The mask rule will remain in place for hospitals, jails, shelters, congregate care settings and the long-term care system.
Those will be allowed to remove masks on April 27.
The next step in Ontario’s reopening will come on March 14, when mandatory vaccinate-or-test policies end for workers in schools, child-care settings, hospitals and long-term care.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore made it official Wednesday morning.
Dr. Moore stresses it’s strongly recommended those who are most at risk to continue to wear masks and adds we should all be prepared we may need to resume masking.
Individual businesses will still have the option of implementing their own rules and everyone is asked to respect those who decide to keep wearing a mask.
Premier Doug Ford notes he didn’t put any pressure on the Science Table to lift the requirement and all they are doing is following the science.
The province is also removing all remaining public health restrictions imposed on businesses, including the need for screening and safety plans.
The rules around the need to isolate are also changing.
If you feel you have been exposed to COVID from someone who does not live in your home, you only have to self-monitor for symptoms for ten days.
Wearing a mask is recommended during that period.
It’s also suggested you not attend or work in high-risk settings.
If it’s a household member, the same recommendations only apply to family members over 18 who have received a booster shot, and those under 18 who are fully vaccinated.
Others will have to isolate for ten days.
The province will also change who it reports cases of COVID-19 to the public.
Deaths will now be identified by if COVID was the main cause, it was a contributing factor or undetermined.
(With files from Randy Thoms)
