Ontario’s Removing Mask Mandates
As mask mandate removal in Ontario is set for midnight on March 21st, 2022, many people are excited and anxiously awaiting putting away their masks for good. In light of these transitions, many health organizations including Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) have said continuing to wear a mask would still be the best plan of protection. Mask mandates are not lifted for everyone in Ontario, though: Health care workers and those visiting clinics or other health-related buildings are still required to wear a mask upon entry.
For the remainder of the winter semester, Ontario universities have been putting out statements saying they will be sticking to their original plans; Lakehead is one of them, standing firm on the mask, screening and vaccination policies we have seen throughout the 2021/2022 school year. Lakehead University has sent out three emails with all the same message: “While the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health recently announced that Ontario will drop its masking requirement on March 21, our Lakehead University community is reminded of Ontario universities' collective decision to maintain their respective masking and COVID-19 vaccination policies until at least the end of the winter term.” The Lakehead media bulletin went on to say that the decision “is aimed at minimizing uncertainty and any potential disruptions to our students, faculty, staff, and the communities around our campuses in keeping with our ongoing efforts to keep our campuses as safe as possible for everyone.” Lakehead has also stated that their vaccination policy will remain in effect till further notice, though no suggestion has been made about when or if that policy may be lifted.
Although masks mandates are being lifted for many retail, service and city employees, as well as in certain public settings, you might still opt to wear a mask while indoors, at work or in crowded outside settings. Wearing a mask after the mandate is removed is now a personal choice: it is still recommended that people keep a mask handy while travelling or in the general public, just in case. In many other countries, when someone is sick, not feeling their best or on public transit, it is normal to don a mask to keep those around them safe. In the coming years, this might be something we see more often in North America as well.
Remember to keep safe, stay home if you are sick and wear a mask where you feel uncomfortable or unwell; and, maybe most importantly, be respectful of those around you and their choices.