Grey Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra says the region is in a good position for mask mandates to be lifted safely.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced today the Province will lift mask mandates in most settings on March 21st. Masks will no longer be required in schools, restaurants or stores. Masking requirements will still be in place for high-risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes, congregate care settings, shelters and public transit. Isolation requirements will also loosen and Moore says the plan is to lift remaining pandemic restrictions on April 27th.
Arra says in a statement, “The mandatory masking policies, local and provincial, served their purpose and protected people from COVID-19.”
He says the efforts of the public and partners in Grey-Bruce in following public health recommendations well positions the community for a safe and successful lifting of masking mandates for most indoor settings. Grey-Bruce implemented a mandatory mask policy for enclosed public places in July 2020. The provincial masking mandate came into effect in October 2020 during the pandemic’s second wave.
Arra says, “With provincial and local public health indicators continuing to improve and based on current vaccination rates, the timing is right to end the universal requirement for masking in indoor public places that are not considered high-risk.”
Arra says, “Implementing the least restrictive policies possible in order to protect the population’s health is consistent with the principle of least intrusive, one of the key principles of public health.”
“In keeping with this principle, universal masking policies should be lifted as soon as possible, so long as it is safe to do so,” says Arra.
Meanwhile, Moore says the province’s high vaccination rates and arrival of antivirals means Ontario has the tools to manage the virus’ impact and society is now learning to live with and manage COVID-19 for the long-term.
Arra is urging people to be kind to those who opt to continue wearing face masks in stores, restaurants and other lower-risk public settings after March 21.
Dr. Arra says the data show the vast majority of Grey-Bruce residents followed masking requirements, noting, “Our ability to lift the mandatory masking policy later this month is, in large part, due to the efforts of Grey-Bruce residents, who did everything they could to protect others and themselves from the spread of COVID-19.”
The Grey Bruce Health Unit says it would like to remind people that, “Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the best defence against severe disease and complications.”