TERRACE BAY – Although most have pulled off their masks long ago when the province ease back on lockdown restrictions to public spaces and businesses, high volume areas like public transit, hospitals, and long-term care homes still required patrons to wear a mask.
On June 11, that changes for the province. Even though there are no public transit services except Handi-Transits in the Superior North communities, hospitals and long-term care faculties have the option to enforce masks in their facilities.
Dr. Kieran Moore, chief medical officer of health, issued the following statement on the lifting of remaining provincial masking requirements, “With high vaccination rates and Ontario’s COVID-19 situation continuing to improve, most of the province’s remaining provincial masking requirements, including on public transit, will expire as of midnight on June 11, 2022.
However, Moore’s statement doesn’t suggest that the virus is a thing of the past.
“To continue providing an additional layer of protection for the most vulnerable, masks will still be required in long-term care and retirement homes. Masking is recommended in higher-risk congregate living settings, such as shelters and group homes,” Moore said in his release.
Locally North of Superior Health Care Group CEO Adam Brown says it remains status quo at their facilities.
However, masks will continue to be mandatory at all North of Superior Health care facilities, including the McCausland Hospital in Terrace Bay and Marathon's Wilson Memorial Hospital.
“As per the medical recommendations from the chief medical officer of health, of course, we are going to maintain masking in our care home in Terrace Bay at Wiles Terrace, and we’ll be extending that masking mandate throughout our hospitals in Terrace Bay and Marathon, as well as, the Peninsula Manor senior centre and home,” said Brown.
While masking requirements are expiring, private business and organizations may implement their own policies.
Moore also states that “Ontarians should continue to wear a mask if they feel it is right for them, are at high risk for severe illness, recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms of the virus or are a close contact with someone with COVID-19.”
The province will continue to monitor for any significant changes, including any new variants of concern, to ensure we are adapting our response to protect the health and safety of all Ontarians.”
