TORONTO – From March 21 in Ontario it is no longer mandatory to wear a mask. The breakthrough was announced Wednesday by the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore. But, to wonder if this is a good idea are many. Virologists, teachers, simple residents believe that the measure is premature. 

Eliminating this element of protection against Covid seems, to say the least, risky since hospitalizations, hospitalizations in intensive care and deaths are still on the agenda. Yesterday in Ontario 742 people infected with the virus were hospitalized, of which 244 in intensive care while the deaths were 20.

According to Peter Juni, director of Ontario’s Covid-19 Science Table, having more time to analyze the data after the province lifted most of the restrictions on March 1, would have been wiser. “Right now we are making decisions very quickly – said Dr. Juni, director of the Ontario Covid-19 Scientific Table – I am not saying that it cannot work. It could, because we have also accumulated a lot of immunity but it might have been a good idea to wait before the data showed some stability or increase as a result of the easing of restrictions made ON March 1. In any case, we’ll see how it goes.”

Juni said he would have liked the mask to be mandatory for at least another 10 days. Paul Roumeliotis, Chief Medical Officer of Health of Eastern Ontario, fully shares this view. “I agree with his point of view. I would have waited another two weeks, he said, waiting until the end of March or early April would allow officials to see what happens when children return to school after the March Break.”

Infectious disease specialist Isaac Bogoch said he would like to see a sustained reduction in cases and hospitalizations before the measure was lifted. “I think it would have been reasonable to wear masks a little longer – he told CTV News – the time would have come, probably soon, when I think the obligation of masks could have been lifted Maybe in a few weeks”.

Toronto pediatrician Sloane Freeman also advises her patients to continue wearing masks. “In my opinion it is a bit early to revoke the obligation to wear a mask… I am particularly concerned about unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children – he said – Omicron is still among us, I hope that children continue to use masks”.

On the same wavelength as Juni, Roumeliotis, Bogoch and Freeman is also the Ottawa health officer, Vera Etches who considers it important to “use caution in changes to the restrictions for Covid-19”. “As public health measures continue to be lifted, it will become increasingly important for individuals to assess their own level of risk and the risk of those with whom they live and interact,” he said, “individuals and their families must choose how, rather than being obligated, they best protect themselves. This will include the decision to wear a mask in indoor or shared spaces.”

Etches said she was pleased that masks will continue to be mandatory for some time on public transport and in healthcare settings and highlighted the discomfort that some residents may feel about their elimination. “I encourage parents, teachers and health workers to continue with the levels of protection that make them feel comfortable and that can reduce the transmission of Covid, including masks,” he said.

The world of school is also in turmoil. “It really seems like a premature decision – said Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) – we are removing another key layer of protection, namely the masks that had the task of slowing the spread of the virus and this worries us”. Brown added that ETFO will encourage members who “feel vulnerable” to continue wearing their masks at school.

On the other hand, the government that defends its decision with a sword does not seem at all worried. Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Ontario “is following a handful of other Canadian jurisdictions that have already lifted the mask requirement.” Lecce pointed to ventilation improvements made in schools and says the province is following Dr. Moore’s recommendations.

Ontario Principals’ Council strongly opposes the ban on masks in schools on March 21, arguing that “many families could travel during the March Break next week, increasing the risk of spreading the virus.”

The Children’s Health Coalition, a group of children’s health organizations in Ontario — including the Hospital for Sick Children — issued a statement saying it would prefer to wait at least two weeks after the March Break. “We all want the pandemic to be a memory for our children, not part of their daily lives. But we are not there yet, so we ask everyone to continue to take into account those around them when it comes to wearing the mask,” he said.