Officially, we are being freed from having to wear masks in Ontario on Monday. But not everywhere in Ontario.
Porcupine Health Unit chief nursing officer Chantal Riopel says the mandate is being lifted for most indoor public settings, such as retail stores.. But you must keep wearing a mask in places like public transit.
“Individuals entering a long term care home, a retirement home, a hospital for example,” she outlines. “or a congregate setting like a group home or possibly a correctional facility still require mask use.”
That’s because a mask protects people around you, more than yourself and, Riopel points out, people in those places are among the most vulnerable to contract COVID-19.
You wdon’t have to mask up, but Chantal Riopel hopes you do. She says omicron is still circulating, and the number of cases reported in this region are the highest in Ontario.
“And it’s for that reason we are strongly recommending that individuals continue to wear their masks in any indoor public setting,” she remarks, “even though it’s no longer required as of March 21st.”
It’s know that cases are higher than the number reported, because only positive results from testing centres are counted.
