Ontario's Top Doctor Says Masks Could Make A Comeback & Here's Why

Even though masks aren't required at most indoor spots in the province, there's a chance that they could come back and Ontario's top doctor is urging residents to "be prepared" for their return.

On Monday, April 11, in a press conference Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore touched on how masks could be brought back to the province and there are three reasons why the mandate might be reintroduced.

"While we will not be reinstating a broad mask mandate at this time, we should all be prepared that we may need to resume a requirement for mask-wearing in indoor public spaces if a new variant of concern emerges, a threat to our health care system, or potentially during the winter months when COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are likely to circulate again," Moore said.

On March 21, the Ontario government lifted masking requirements for most indoor spots in the province, like movie theatres and restaurants.

Masks still need to be worn, however, on public transit, at hospitals, in long-term care homes and in some other settings until April 27, when all remaining requirements are set to be lifted.

But, in the press conference on Monday afternoon, Moore said that masking protocols could be extended.

"Clearly we think this wave is not going to be settling until the middle or end of May, and as a result, we are looking at extension for all of those high-risk facilities. Anyone in those congregate settings, shelters, retirement homes, long-term care homes and transit, we're absolutely considering maintaining it," Moore said.

Last week, the scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said that the province was seeing up to 120,000 new COVID-19 cases every day.

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

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