Mask Mandates Are Lifting Across Canada & Here's What It Looks Like

Say hello to showing your face in public once again! Mask mandates are lifting in Canada in the coming weeks, along with other COVID-19 restrictions, and every province has a slightly different reopening plan.

On March 9, the Ontario government announced that it will be putting an end to all COVID-19 measures in the coming weeks.

Most Ontario provincial mask mandates will be dropped, including the requirement for schools, starting on March 21. During the announcement that the rules would be eased, Premier Doug Ford said that "we've got to move on." However, masks will still be required in high-risk settings like public transit, long-term care homes, health care facilities and a few others until April 27, when all Ontario COVID-19 mandates will be dropped completely.

Across Canada, other provinces have also announced that mask rules will be lifted soon, including Manitoba, which will get rid of the requirement on March 15, and Quebec, which will axe the rule in most public spaces by mid-April.

Other provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, have already gotten rid of COVID-19 measures.

Alberta has scrapped capacity limits for all indoor venues, and mask mandates have also been dropped aside from in high-risk places like public transit, hospitals and long-term care homes.

Saskatchewan announced a similar plan, and all COVID-19 mandates in the province have officially gotten the boot.

In Atlantic Canada, restrictions are set to disappear this spring, with each province working on a different timeline.

In Nova Scotia, mask mandates and all other restrictions are set to be dropped on March 21.

A similar timeline is in place in New Brunswick, with all mandates going away on March 14, the same date that Newfoundland & Labrador is expecting to end all restrictions.

The latest date that all restrictions are being lifted for an Atlantic province is set to be April 7 in P.E.I.

Lastly, B.C. has no announced plan for when mandates will be dropped in the province but has scrapped gathering limits.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.