Ontario to lift most mask mandates on March 21

Toronto–Ontario is removing mask mandates on March 21 in most settings, including schools, and is ending all remaining public health measures, directives and orders on April 27. The province says improving health indicators, such as a stable COVID-19 test positivity rate and declining hospitalizations, as well as Ontario's high vaccination rates and the availability of antiviral treatments, allow for these steps. The announcement comes as 1,974 new COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday, though the province's chief medical officer of health has said that limits on testing mean that the true number is likely 10 times that amount, or more than 19,000 cases. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said Wednesday that the peak of the Omicron variant is behind us and the province has been able to move "cautiously and gradually'' through its reopening plan. Read: Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and booster dose against the Omicron variant "We are now learning to live with and manage COVID-19 for the long term,'' he said. "This necessitates a shift to a more balanced response to the pandemic.'' The next step in Ontario's reopening will come on March 14, when mandatory vaccinate-or-test policies end for workers in schools, child-care settings, hospitals and long-term care. The long-term care ministry had been set to mandate booster doses for staff on that date. Government officials say individual organizations will have the authority to keep their own requirements in place, and most hospitals have said they will continue their strict vaccine mandates. One week later, masking requirements in most settings will be removed—including in schools and child-care settings—except for public transit, long-term care, retirement homes, other congregate settings, and health-care settings. Officials say the province will continue to send masks and rapid antigen tests to schools and businesses. Premier Doug Ford said at an unrelated announcement Wednesday that the world has learned a lot since March 2020 and Ontario is in much better shape now. "We're going to move forward cautiously, and if someone wants to keep (a mask) on, God bless them, and good for them,'' he said in Brantford, Ont. "But I know a lot of people don't want to keep them on.'' Other measures in schools, such as cohorting and daily on-site screening for symptoms will also end on March 21, as will all regulatory requirements for businesses, such as to do "passive'' screening and have COVID-19 safety plans. Read: QUIZ: Test your knowledge of concussions On April 27, all remaining mask rules will be lifted and remaining emergency orders and directives will be lifted or expire, except that officials say isolation requirements for those who've tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms are part of ongoing guidance. But isolation guidelines are being changed Wednesday for close contacts of someone with COVID-19 or who is symptomatic. No one who is a close contact of a person outside their household has to isolate now, though they are still recommended to wear a mask outside the home for 10 days and avoid high-risk people and settings. If a household member has COVID-19 or symptoms, people do not need to isolate if they are 18 or older and have received a booster dose, if they are under 18 and have two vaccine doses, or if they tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days. Ontario is also updating its reporting on COVID-19 deaths starting Friday. The province will classify whether COVID-19 caused a death, contributed to a death, or if the cause of death is unknown or missing. As well, Ontario will report deaths by vaccination status and age group, and remove from the cumulative total any deaths that are now classified as being unrelated to COVID-19. Data provided Wednesday by the province indicates that the majority of reported COVID-19 deaths have been caused by the virus, with about another 20% listed with COVID-19 as a contributing factor. Less than 10% of the deaths are classified as being unrelated. Read: Study: concussions associated with higher risk of mental health concerns in kids

Ontario to lift most mask mandates on March 21

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