The provincial government has now lifted mask mandates in almost every setting, but there are several places where people are still forced to disguise themselves, regardless of the changes.
Some of the places are scenarios where there are usually a lot of high-risk people, while others are just smaller, crowded spaces where it’s hard to distance yourself.
The province extended the mandate of masks for many environments amid a sixth wave of the virus in the spring, but medical director of health Dr. Kieran Moore told CP24 this week that “we are in a safer position. “, which means that most mandates can be removed.
However, not everyone agrees. Dr. Fahad Razak, the new scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board, said he would have liked the remaining mask mandates to be extended to protect high-risk environments and people. Many other doctors have expressed a similar feeling.
“So if we eliminate the mask requirement in some end sectors like traffic, hospitals and long-term care, whether that will have an effect or hurt, we just don’t have the data to show that yes or no to that question, “Razak said. “So it becomes a summons.”
With that in mind, a number of configurations are making their own decisions about whether to continue masking policies. Here’s what some sites have decided and how they think about it.
HOSPITALS
Most GTA hospitals have said their mask mandates will remain in place for the time being. It includes hospitals in the University Health Network such as Toronto General and Princess Margaret, as well as others such as Mount Sinai, St. Mike’s, North York General, Humber River and Southlake Regional Health Center.
The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) also said its masking policy will continue.
“SickKids has a uniquely vulnerable patient population, as not all of our patients are eligible for vaccination and many are immunocompromised, putting them at greater risk for serious outcomes due to COVID-19 than the community, “the hospital said. “For these reasons, we continue to take a prudent approach with our security measures and will continue to demand universal masking after June 11.”
Scarborough Health Network also said there will be no change in its policy.
“There will be no change in the universal masking requirement for staff, patients, visitors / essential care partners, Scarborough Health Network contractors / providers,” a spokesman told CP24.com. “We will continue to follow the recommendations of the Toronto Region-IPAC and the Toronto Region-Hospital Operational Guide of the Toronto-Hospital COVID-19 Operations Table.”
READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE.
SOME THEATER
Mirvish Productions has said that all visitors and staff will still have to wear a mask that completely covers their nose, mouth and chin to their theaters. The company, which suffered long layoffs during the pandemic’s heyday, updated its policy on May 30 and said it would stay “until further notice.”
“Our job is totally dependent on strangers gathering in an indoor space, shoulder to shoulder watching the show for a couple of hours,” explains Director of Communications and Programming John Karastamatis. “Therefore, we feel an obligation to the safety of the audience. And we believe that wearing a mask at the moment is not a terrible inconvenience. It is an inconvenience, but it is not a terrible inconvenience.”
He acknowledges that many Mirvish patrons are older and have expressed concern that they feel vulnerable when they come to the theater without any guarantee.
But theater explains politics to people when they book their tickets and most people, he says, have not made any fuss.
Karastamatis also points out that while performers did not mask themselves on stage for obvious reasons, everyone masks themselves when they are off stage, as keeping the cast and group healthy is a priority.
Although movie theaters and sports venues have opted to abandon masking, Karastamatis says health tips have changed so often throughout the pandemic that Mirvish feels more comfortable playing them safe for a while. more until there is a clearer picture.
“I don’t think we’re clear yet on what our audience feels safe with and what’s really safe,” he says.
TRAFFIC
Although the TTC will no longer officially require most motorcycles to be masked, the agency continues to recommend masking and people will still have to mask themselves at Wheel-Trans, where there are a higher number of vulnerable motorcyclists. .
“The TTC will continue to strongly recommend the use of masks,” TTC spokesman Stuart Green told CP24. “It will be optional, of course, for both employees and our customers, with the exception of Wheel-Trans. A masking mandate will continue at Wheel-Trans and that was a decision made in conjunction with our Accessible Traffic Advisory Committee. “
Masks are now optional on GO Transit and UP Express.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, Metrolinx will follow the advice of the medical director of health,” Metrolinx spokeswoman Ann Marie Aikins told CP24.com. “As of June 11, masks are no longer needed on GO and UP Express.”
In another interview, Aikins told CP24 that while masks will be optional, Metrolinx knows that many customers will want to continue using them.
“We hope that customers will continue to choose the option of wearing a mask and we will see some of this because this is how they feel comfortable and we will see customers without and what we ask of all our customers is just to respect each other. other personal circumstances and choices, “he said.
Read more about this here.
LENGTHS OF CARE AND RETIREMENTS
Although Ontario joins on June 11 to lift most of the mask mandates, the province still requires masks to be worn in long-term care homes and retirement homes.
The province also “recommends” masking in higher-risk congregation settings, such as shelters and group homes.
SHELTERS
Toronto City Council has said that mandatory masking will be maintained in shelters, 24-hour rest areas and 24-hour women’s shelters.
“All measures for the detection, testing and prevention and control of infections are also being maintained in the host environment,” the city said in a statement.