Masks No Longer Mandatory In Most Public Settings

Face masks in Ontario will no longer be mandatory in schools, retail settings, gyms and most indoor spaces, as of Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Settings including public transit, healthcare facilities and long-term care homes will require face masks until the end of April when the province plans to remove all restrictions.

Individual business owners may choose to still require masks.

In a release from Peterborough Public Health, Dr. Thomas Piggot recommends local residents continue wearing masks after mandates are lifted.

“We recommend wearing a mask while indoors and around others for at least a few more weeks until we better understand the context of COVID-19 transmission in our region,” said Piggott. “There are still thousands of local residents who remain at risk of serious disease if they get infected, and only 55 per cent of eligible area residents are fully vaccinated with all three doses of COVID-19 vaccine.”

I also strongly recommend individuals continue to wear their mask indoors around others beyond the 21st of March.

— Dr Thomas Piggott (He/Him) (@twpiggott) March 12, 2022

Piggot notes that wearing a mask does not have to be “all or nothing.” Those that choose not to wear a mask may still choose to wear it in small indoor areas that are not well ventilated.

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Local Community Agencies To Distribute Thousands of Face Coverings To Clients Thanks to New Joint Initiative

A joint City-County-Peterborough Public Health initiative to provide reusable face coverings for people who may not be able to buy them is being supported by local community groups.

With face coverings now mandatory in various public settings, Kinsmen Club, Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture, and Kawartha Food Share are making donations to support the bulk purchase of face coverings. The United Way of Peterborough and District is accepting financial donations for the project through its COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund.

Peterborough Public HEalth Medical Officer of Health Dr. ROSANA Salvaterra took to the streets to hand out cloth masks to those who need them in downtown Peterborough. (Photos by Peterborough Public Health)

With the support of these groups, Peterborough Social Services will be providing about 5,000 face coverings to community agencies for distribution to clients. Anyone who wants to contribute new, unused face coverings, including homemade face coverings, can drop the items off at the Peterborough Public Health office at 185 King St.

”Working together has kept our numbers down,” says Warden J. Murray Jones. “I am so proud of our full community for following the new policies and procedures Peterborough Public Health has put in place.”

“We’re working with our community partners to make sure that anyone who needs a face covering can get one,” adds Mayor Diane Therrien. “Once again, community groups such as the Kinsmen Club and organizations such as Kawartha Food Share are stepping up to help our fellow residents through this pandemic.”

“I’m extremely proud and grateful to see community members help each other stay safe by not only wearing face coverings, but ensuring those who need one are getting one,” says Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health for Peterborough Public Health. “Evidence shows that this kind of collective action helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 when we can’t keep two metres apart.”

Wearing a face covering is an added measure to the other public health measures that are in place, including:

• Physical distancing
• Staying home if sick
• Washing your hands
• Coughing and sneezing etiquette
• Not touching your face
• Cleaning commonly touched surfaces

To make a financial donation toward providing face coverings for people in the community, donate to the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund online here or by calling 705-742-8839.

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