It’s the first time since Oct.2020 that masks were not mandatory for inside settings. Even though people were wearing masks much earlier, the province didn’t mandate it until October of the first year of the pandemic.
Yes, there are still some places that require masks to be worn. Hospitals, long term care homes, other health care settings, shelters, public transit, jails are all locations that still require employees and visitors to dawn a mask.
As of today, March 21, the mandatory vaccine and testing policies are also being lifted for those that work within schools, child-care settings, hospitals and long term care facilities.
The province is leaving it up to each business/location to decide if they want to keep those policies in place, but they are no longer required by Ontario.
Businesses no longer need to screen patrons upon arrival as vaccine passports will no longer be required at locations such as restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, and other places where masks are not mandatory.
School co-horting will also be axed, as well as symptom screening. However, parents are encouraged to still check their children for symptoms as a precaution.
On March 28 the Reopening Ontario Act expires and remaining orders associated with the act are extended for 30 days — however this is subject to change depending on case numbers.
The province is aiming to have all mandates lifted by April 27 and would include;
- All remaining mask requirements are lifted
- Mask requirements are removed in all remaining settings
- All remaining orders under the Reopening Ontario Act expire