Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, gave a Covid-19 update on Wednesday to announce the end of mask mandates for most settings in Ontario.
Moore stated, “With continued improvements in trends, Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings on March 21, with the exception of select settings, such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes, and high-risk congregate care settings.”
He continued, “Removing the mask mandate does not mean the risk is gone. Covid-19 transmission is still occurring across the province, and masks can help protect you and others from becoming infected with Covid-19.”
Moore warned Canadians that they should expect cases and hospitalizations to slightly increase as Ontario continues to open up and resume regular activity.
During his announcement, Moore credited a high vaccination rate and natural immunity as the reason for the reversal in policy.
“Thanks to our high vaccination rates and natural immunity that is developing, as well as the arrival of other therapeutics and antivirals, Ontario has the tools necessary to manage the impacts of this virus,” he said.
Ontario’s quarantine and isolation guidelines will change as well. According to Rebel News, Ontario households will no longer be required to isolate if they have been vaccinated and boosted. Covid-19 contacts are encouraged to avoid high risk settings for ten days, and those with symptoms are encouraged to self-isolate and get tested.
The Canadian trucker convoys appear to have accomplished their goal of restoring freedom to Canada and bringing an end to authoritarian Covid-19 mandates. The protests are estimated to have included 50,000 Canadian trucks from across the nation, shattering world records in a bold display of protest.
Following the demonstrations, the Canadian government announced it would begin to scale back Covid-19 orders. Mask mandates and vaccination mandates are finally starting to be reversed, allowing citizens to exercise their freedom once again.
During his announcement Wednesday, Moore emphasized that the most vulnerable should continue to wear masks. He also asked Canadians to respect the mask mandates still in place and individuals who choose to wear masks even if they are no longer mandated to do so.
“As a society,” Moore said, “I am asking that we remain kind, considerate and respectful towards those who continue to choose to wear a mask.”
Towards the conclusion of his remarks, Moore warned Ontario residents that masks could potentially be required again in the future if Covid-19 risks rise during the winter months.
While they can begin to celebrate the end of mask mandates, Canadians continue to push for restoring all their freedoms in the aftermath of the trucker convoy.
