Page 15 - Peter Juni News Today

Ontario’s top doctor is set to provide an update on the province’s COVID-19 response Wednesday as sources tell CTV News Toronto and CP24 that the government will end mandatory masking in most indoor settings in the coming weeks.

Ontario students won’t have to wear masks when they return to school after March break, the province announced Wednesday.

It's hard not to see the province's latest move to dismantle COVID protections as anything but with an eye to the June 2 election

The Ontario government is lifting COVID-19 masking requirements in the province too soon, several public health experts said Wednesday.

The Ontario government's decision to lift its mask mandate in school is "premature" and will put students at risk of having in-person learning once again disrupted, according to one of the largest education unions in the country. 

Dr. Peter Juni, scientific director of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Table, says it is too early to be sure we can safely lift mask mandates in Ontario, as we don’t have the data on whether lifting vaccine mandates has affected case levels or not.

TORONTO - Ontario is removing most mask mandates on March 21 and ending all remaining public health ...

Juni said it's important that the province uses all "tools that we have in our toolbox," including antivirals, to fight COVID-19. He said that as part of a test-to-treat program, the province would need to make "rapid molecular tests" widely available.

Ontario pharmacists have played a key role in COVID testing and vaccination. Now they want to help in prescribing antiviral treatment too.

Masks must still be worn in indoor, public settings but across the province indoor capacity limits and proof of vaccination requirements will be lifted Tuesday. Region of Waterloo's medical officer of health warns people to be cautious in the coming weeks as COVID-19 continues to circulate.