Ready or not, the masks are coming off on March 21st as the provincial government is ending the mandate to wear one in almost all indoor settings.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, made the announcement at Queen’s Park on Wednesday morning, March 9. With the exception of hospitals, public transportation, long-term care homes and high-risk congregate settings, all mask mandates — including in schools, restaurants, movie theatres and gyms — will be removed in the province on that date. All remaining public health measures in reference to COVID-19 will be removed on April 27th.
“While this does not signal that COVID-19 has disappeared or that the pandemic is over, it does mean that we have come to a place where we know what we need to do to manage this virus and to keep each other safe,” said Dr. Moore.
We took to the streets of Brighton on Wednesday, March 9 to ask people’s opinion regarding the province’s ending of the mask mandate, which came into effect in Ontario in October of 2020 and will end in less than two weeks.
As a person who suffers from a chronic condition and is disabled, Hannah Rittwage said masking has been effective tool at keeping everyone safe during the more than two years of the pandemic. She plans to continue to wear one after the mandate ends.
“I’m disabled and chronically ill, so I’m not super excited because it’s something really good to keep everyone safe. I haven’t been sick in two years and it’s been fantastic. Once the mask mandates end, obviously people are going to go back to normal, but I don’t think I’m ever going to take it off. It’s been so nice to not get a cold, or strep throat or covid. It’s going to be different, but you really can’t do anything about it,” said Rittwage.
While the mask mandate is being lifted March 21, Gordon Dingwall said he’s sure that mask wearing will continue well beyond the ending of the mandate in the province.
“I think we’ll be we’ll be wearing these masks off and on for the next 20 years. It will be a collectors item for 2022. What did you do in 2022? I wore a mask for months and I don’t know what people’s faces look like anymore,” said Dingwall.
Bradley See said he will be happy when Ontario joins other jurisdictions in scrapping the mask mandate, although he said people who want to continue to wear masks should be allowed.
“I’ll be quite happy when it comes,” said See. “A lot of places have already gone that route and it will be nice when we have as well. It’s a matter of personal freedom and if somebody wants to wear one they should be allowed to, but if someone doesn’t want to wear one, they should be allowed to make that choice as well.”
Because she’s employed in retail, Kathleen Myers-Reid said she plans to continue wearing one beyond the end of the mandate for safety’s sake. She is, however, okay with others not to wear one.
“I’ve been wearing them for two years as I work in retail and so I’ll continue to wear it as long as I feel comfortable with it. People can do what is comfortable for them. I’m good with that. If you’re not feeling well, put a mask on or stay home. Other than that if you’re comfortable with not wearing one, don’t. Because of where I work in retail and I’m exposed to people all the time, I think I’ll continue (to wear a mask) for at least a little while (longer),” she said.
Ross Chalmbers said, because of his age, he will continue to wear his mask beyond the end of the mandate. He said the province should have waited a while before ending the mask mandate.
“Whatever they do, I’m probably still going to wear my mask because I’m an elderly person. So, I have to protect myself as much as I can. Basically that’s what I’m going to do but I don’t think they really should drop the mandate yet. It’s too soon,” said Chalmbers.
Carman Herrington said there are still many places, including hospitals, long-term care homes and big-box stores where people should still be obliged to wear a mask.
“Keeping the health care workers safe, keeping the kids healthy and in school, it depends on the school and the situation, long-term care homes (should) keep them on, hospital (should) keep them on and it depends on the area if the situation gets worse keeps them on, and if you go into the big box stores, keep them on, too, until later on until (COVID-19) really clears up. It’s a transition time, hopefully it gets better,” said Herrington.
Dr. Moore, at Wednesday’s press conference, said a mask mandate may be resurrected in the fall with the possible arrival of a new COVID strain and other respiratory viruses.
“We should all be prepared the we may need to resume mask wearing if a new variant of concern emerges or potentially during the winter months when COVID and other respiratory viruses are likely to circulate again,” said Dr. Moore.
(Written by: Alan Rivett)
