Ontario's mask mandate could be lifted 'simultaneously' across most areas, including in schools

Ontario's top public health official says that he anticipates that the mask mandate will be lifted 'simultaneously' across most sectors when it is safe to do so, rather than on a piecemeal basis.

Quebec has announced a plan to lift the mask mandate in elementary and secondary school classrooms by March 14 en route to eventually scrapping it for other indoor public settings as well.

But during a briefing on Thursday Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore suggested that the province is unlikely to go down that road and will instead look to lift the mask mandate entirely, with exceptions likely to be made to certain high-risk settings like public transit and hospitals.

His comments come on the heels of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown calling on the province to “strongly” consider lifting the mask mandate in schools as part of helping “children get back to normal.”

New Brunswick also announced on Thursday afternoon that it would lift its mask mandate for indoor public settings as of March 14.