Ontario’s top doctor to suggest extending mask mandate for hospitals, transit

People in settings such as hospitals, long-term care and public transit may be required to wear a mask for another four weeks.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health told The Canadian Press Thursday he will be recommending that the province extend remaining mask mandates.

Dr. Kieran Moore said he will be submitting that proposal to the government, and he believes it will help protect people living and working in vulnerable sectors through the worst of the sixth wave.

Premier Doug Ford said earlier Thursday he would have “no problem” keeping the current mask mandate in place after its expiry date of April 27 if that is what Moore recommends.

The comments came as data from the province’s pandemic advisers suggest that COVID-19 transmission may have peaked, but it’s too soon to be certain.

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table’s latest modelling, released Thursday, said the province is “well into wave six of the pandemic” prompted by the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, waning immunity and the lifting of most public health measures.

The expert group said it is unclear if the apparent peak in cases during the sixth wave will be followed by an increase, decrease or continued plateau after the long weekend.