A woman wears a mask while traveling on the Bloor Line subway on March 14, 2020. Most of the remaining mandatory mask rules in Ontario, including those that require people to wear masks when traveling on public transportation or visiting hospitals, will expire on Saturday. Carlos Osorio / The Canadian Click
Ontario’s COVID-19 mask mandates will expire this weekend for hospitals, health centers and public transportation, but will continue in long-term care facilities and retirement homes.
All remaining mask requirements in the province were due to end at 12 noon on Saturday after being expanded into high-risk indoor facilities during the sixth wave of the virus in April. This included all health facilities, long-term care homes and traffic systems, as well as shelters and congregated care settings.
With declining hospitalizations in recent weeks and high vaccination rates, Ontario Medical Director of Health Kieran Moore said Wednesday that the remaining masking requirements will end on Saturday as planned, except in residences. long-term care and retirement homes to provide “an extra layer of protection for the most vulnerable.” Masking will still be needed in this setting indefinitely.
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The Ontario Long Term Care Association said 77 households are currently suffering from an outbreak of active COVID-19 infections among 528 residents.
Masks are also recommended in high-risk congregation settings, such as shelters and group homes. Guidelines for the use of masks in hospitals will be published in certain scenarios, but will not be mandatory.
“Ontarians should continue to wear a mask if they think it is right for them, are at high risk for serious illness, are recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms of the virus, or are in close contact with someone with COVID-19. “, he added. Dr. Moore said in the statement.
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) and the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) say removing mandates could increase health system disruptions.
Hospitals are currently facing a shortage of staff due to the spread of the virus, said RNAO President Morgan Hoffarth, who is concerned that lifting the mask rule will only lead to more infections and staff problems.
“We are already facing a critical shortage of staff and we cannot afford to have additional people,” he said in an interview.
Although COVID-19-related hospitalizations and critical illnesses have fallen in recent weeks, OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale said vulnerable populations continue to be at increased risk of infection and that mask warrants could help prevent the spread in hospital settings.
Upon completion of the requirement, Mr. Dale said he expects hospitals to maintain their own masking policies, but argues that a provincial-led directive had more weight and facilitated implementation.
“Our hospitals continue to adhere to the precautionary principle, as they have done throughout the pandemic, and follow best practices in infection, prevention and control,” Mr. Dale in a statement.
Toronto’s SickKids Hospital said it will maintain its masking requirements, as children under the age of five are not eligible for vaccination and many are immunocompromised. Fred Lum / The Globe and Mail
The university health network, which includes five hospitals and health care centers in downtown Toronto, will continue to maintain its masking policy. UHN also requires that all visitors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Toronto SickKids Hospital will also maintain its masking requirements, as children under the age of five are not eligible for vaccination and many are immunocompromised.
In terms of traffic, Metrolinx and the TTC said they will withdraw their mandates in accordance with the province, but continue to strongly recommend the use of masks.
Anne Marie Aikins, a spokeswoman for Metrolinx, which operates GO Transit, said the service will continue to encourage the use of masks on the system. Front-line employees will still be required to wear masks and the company’s staff vaccination policy remains in effect.
“It’s one thing not to impose something and it won’t be imposed, so it will be your choice, but there is still a recommendation and encouragement for people to take precautions and one of them could be wearing a mask,” he said in an interview. . .
COVID-19 hospitalizations have been declining in Ontario since the peak of the sixth wave in April, down 27 percent from last week to 522 cases on Wednesday. There are 78 people who test positive for the ICU, the lowest since last August. Wastewater data have also indicated a decrease in transmission to the province.
Despite the drop in cases, the new scientific director of the Ontario COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board says the virus is still prevalent and that masks offer a minimally invasive way to protect themselves from infection.
Dr Fahad Razak said the advisory board did not have an official position on mask mandates, but he said expanding them could have been a safeguard to prevent further staff shortages.
“It’s a combination of patients still coming in and health workers who are suffering from more fatigue and exhaustion from the 2 and a half years of the pandemic. So we’re still in a vulnerable position,” he said in an interview.
Mask requirements for healthcare facilities are maintained in several Canadian provinces, including Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta.
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