On March 21, Ontario will repeal its mask laws

Key Takeaways:

• On March 21, officials in Canada's largest province announced that mask laws would be repealed in most settings, including schools.
• Premier Doug Ford of Ontario stated that the universe has learned a great deal since March 2020 and that Ontario is now in much better shape.

Officials in Canada's largest province announced Wednesday that mask laws would be repealed in most settings, such as schools, on March 21.

Improved health indicators, including a stable COVID-19 test positivity rate as well as declining hospitalizations, and also Ontario's high vaccination rates and antiviral treatment availability, permit for these steps, according to the province.

"It's no longer a requirement; it's a choice." Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said, "I hope that anyone who is still vulnerable continues to wear masks."

The declaration came as 1,974 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the province on Wednesday. However, Moore claims that the actual number is likely ten times higher or over 19,000 cases due to testing limitations.

"We're learning to live with as well as manage COVID-19 on a long-term basis now," Moore said. "A shift to a more balanced reaction to the pandemic is required."

Individuals, according to Moore, can assess their own risk. "You can't make masking mandatory indefinitely," he said.

In a separate announcement on Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that the universe has learned a lot since March 2020 and that Ontario is in much better shape now.

"We're going to continue with caution," he stated, adding, "God bless them as well as good for them if they want to keep (a mask) on." "However, I'm aware that most people don't want them to remain on."

Ford claims he's been dubbed "North America's most cautious government leader." Over the last two years, Ontario and Toronto, Canada's largest cities, have been locked down more than many other jurisdictions.