TORONTO – From tomorrow goodbye to masks in Ontario. At least in most facilities including schools and kindergartens. The breakthrough was announced last week by Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario Kieran Moore due to the general improvement in the epidemiological situation. To abandon this personal protective equipment in the public transport sector, long-term care, retirement homes and other health facilities, reception centers, prisons and homes for people with developmental disabilities, instead we will have to wait a little longer, to be precise until April 27th. 

Meanwhile, the decision of the provincial government has generated no little anxiety and concern since the sub-variant of Omicron BA.2 is, according to virologists, more contagious than 30% of the original strain. Moore, however, while pointing out that BA.2 should spread and become dominant, believes that hospitalizations do not seem destined to increase. However, the Ontario Technical-Scientific Committee is of a completely different opinion, which, with the relaxation of public health measures, has predicted a probable increase in hospitalizations and hospitalizations in intensive care.

The Ontario Science Advisory Table also stressed the importance of masks, with data suggesting that transmission occurs mainly inside, where people are close: the main purpose of a mask is to protect others, although according to some studies they also offer protection to the wearer.

The Reopening Ontario Act will expire on March 28, meaning Premier Doug Ford cannot use this legislation to issue new pandemic management orders.

The remaining orders, which will remain in effect for another month, cannot be renewed again by the province. And as a result, on April 27, barring a significant turn in events or a worsening of Covid-19-related indicators, essentially all public health measures against the virus will end in Ontario. Masks will no longer be needed in long-term care homes, retirement homes, health facilities, prisons, shelters, meeting places and on public transport.

The directives of medical director Moore will cease to have value. These expiring orders include the requirement that healthcare professionals wear N95 masks and other personal protective equipment when working with Covid-19 patients, that hospitals and LTCs provide such masks, and that hospitals accept patient transfers and resource sharing.

Orders establishing the requirements for long-term care homes with regard to screening, epidemic preparedness, personal protective equipment and physical distancing and the obligation of high-quality masks for paramedics have also come to an end.

And the City of Toronto has also decided to align itself with the province. The city has in fact announced that starting tomorrow it will eliminate the obligation of the mask in most of its facilities.

In a press release issued on Friday, the city confirmed that it will follow the provincial protocol and remove masks for visitors and employees.

The city had already decided to repeal its regulation on masks starting today, including an amendment requiring that they be worn in closed common areas inside apartment buildings and buildings.

Masks will no longer be needed at Toronto Public Library libraries, garbage depots, city museums, St. Lawrence Market, Metro Hall, North York Civic Centre, Scarborough Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, York Civic Centre and East York Civic Centre. Is it a first step towards returning to normality? Who knows, we hope so.