Mississauga mayor agrees with some that lifting mask mandates is a bit too soon

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is expressing some concern about the rapid pace at which the province is moving to eliminate mask mandates.

Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, confirmed on Wednesday the province plans to end mandatory mask use in most indoor settings, including schools, following the return from March Break on March 21. Masking requirements will remain for public transit, long-term care, retirement homes and other health-care settings, congregate care settings, shelters, jails and homes for individuals with developmental disabilities until at least April 27.

Crombie says while its clear we have arrived at the “next phase” of the pandemic, she understands why some people think lifting the mandate on March 21 is a bit too soon.

“Frankly, I do to,” she told reporters during her weekly update on Thursday.

“The reality is very soon, masking will be about choice and I encourage people to do what they are comfortable with. But we know COVID is not over yet and is not going away anytime soon. We’re still seeing lots of people contracting it each and every day.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called the lifting of masking rules “positive news” on Wednesday, saying the move is a reflection of the sacrifices made by residents over the last two years.

“When the science is clear and the data is clear, I certainly support the provincial decision,” Brown said.

Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, echoed Crombie’s comments that lifting the mask mandates does not mean they should not continue to be worn in high-risk or crowded indoor settings.

“Some people will still need to wear them because of their health,” de Villa said during the city’s COVID update on Thursday. “Some people will choose to wear them because they feel more comfortable doing so. I absolutely recommend the use of well-fitted, high quality masks particularly for those at higher risk and particularly in indoor crowded settings and as we monitor the level of COVID in the city and adapt to living like we used to, but with COVID as a fact of life.”

RELATED:

• TDSB to update masking policy Friday as school boards weigh options
• Children’s Health Coalition: School masking should have stayed in place longer

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Crombie says Mississauga council is set to meet March 23 to make a decision on the city-wide masking mandate, which is set to expire at the end of the month. She anticipates the decision will align with the province, and while she remains optimistic that current conditions are trending in the right direction, she is also encouraging the province to keep masking in place longer in high risk settings if health measures warrant.

“We need to continue to protect those most vulnerable in our community,” said Crombie. “And I know the province will not hesitate to ensure we have the right measures in place to keep us healthy and keep us moving in the right direction. If that means we have to bring back measures such as proof of vaccination or capacity limits, that we know work and are effective, so be it.”

Friday marks the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. More than six million people have died worldwide as a result of coronavirus, including more than 37, 000 Canadians and almost 13,000 Ontarians.