Tory encourages TTC riders to wear masks with requirement expiring on Saturday

Toronto Mayor John Tory says that riders in and across the city should continue to wear masks on the TTC following the province’s decision to lift face coverings on public transit.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced Wednesday that masks would continue to be gradually removed in most settings as of June 11. Masks will still be required in long-term care and retirement homes.

Masking is also strongly recommended in higher-risk congregate living settings, such as shelters and group homes.

It prompted a response from the TTC’s chair and president, who both repeated that while COVID-19 indicators have continually improved, the virus has not gone anywhere and recommended that masks still be worn on public transit.

TTC officials said the decision not to introduce a new masking mandate on Toronto’s public transit system was made in consultation with public health officials and other transit agencies in the GTA.

While supportive of the province’s decision to lift masking mandates in most settings, Mayor Tory says he’s encouraged by other institutions — such as hospitals — implement their guidance on face coverings.

“The original mandate of the TTC was to have its chief executive officer in consultation with our medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, who does such a great job, make those decisions about masking,” Tory said.

“They’ve talked to each other as I have talked to her about many issues, including masking, and decided to strongly encourage people to wear masks but will remove the compulsory aspect of this. That’s a decision that they made, and they made it based on that consultation. I respect it as such.”

Tory said he does hope that others will choose to continue wearing a mask “as often as they can” on the TTC.

“I think it’s providing an extra measure of safety for them as we continue to battle the, hopefully, later stages of COVID,” Tory added.

“It’s not done yet. COVID is not gone. But with that said, people are being given advice, and I hope they follow it.”

Ontario top science adviser would have preferred extended mask rules

The scientific director of Ontario’s COVID-19 advisory group said he would have chosen an extension to the province’s masking rules in high-risk settings.

Dr. Fahad Razak said there are still signs of strain in the healthcare system — not just in terms of patient volumes but also in healthcare worker burnout and shortages.

Razak said the question of when mask mandates should be lifted is a judgment call, and reasonable people will disagree on the exact timing, but extending them a bit longer would give the healthcare system more time to get through a difficult period.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health says mask mandates on public transit and in most health settings will expire as scheduled on Saturday due to improving COVID-19 indicators and high vaccination rates, while the policy will remain in long-term care and retirement homes. Photo: Unsplash.

Anthony Dale, the president of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), said the organization had recommended an extension to the provincial order requiring masking in hospital settings. He thinks it would have been appropriate to keep the rule because vulnerable people are at heightened risk of infection even if overall COVID-19 hospitalizations are declining.

The province said organizations could keep their mask policies, and people should keep masking if they are high-risk for the illness, are recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has the infection.

Two hospitals in Windsor said they would keep masking rules for all visitors, staff and most patients to protect elderly and immune-compromised patients.

Toronto’s University Health Network has said the same.

“We treat some of the most immune-compromised patients, and we are committed to providing the safest possible environment for everyone in the hospital,” spokesperson Gillian Howard said.

Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children said it would also keep a universal masking policy after Saturday due to its “uniquely vulnerable patient population” with immunocompromised children and not all eligible for vaccination against COVID-19.

With files from The Canadian Press