COVID-19 emergency operations team expects bylaws requiring face coverings in the city’s indoor settings to remain for some time despite the province’s chief medical officer beginning a review of Ontario’s mask mandates in March.Mayor Fred Eisenberger says masks will be around “for a while” since the Omicron variant continues to put pressure on Hamilton’s hospital system.“I’d like nothing more than to have all of these restrictions go, but we don’t want to throw away two years of effort to protect people in our community,” Eisenberger said in an update on Tuesday.Dr.
Kieran Moore made remarks on the review during his weekly COVID-19 update on Thursday.Moore said he anticipated a review will be done in the second or third week of March, allowing for data to be reviewed after the province lifts capacity limits and the proof of vaccination requirement on March 1.“If and when we transition, it would be from a mandate to mask, to a recommendation to mask,” Moore said.“I would certainly hope that vulnerable members of our community that are at risk for this virus, that are immune suppressed or transplant patients, in public spaces would continue to mask.”Medical officer of Health Dr.
Elizabeth Richardson said the province’s initiative is to undertake an “evidence review” which will investigate how masks might fit in a longer-term plan after the easing of more restrictions set for March 1.“It’s a pretty dynamic environment right now around masking,” Richardson said, “how it best will work for us when it comes to COVID-19; how it will work in terms of respiratory viruses as we go forward; and where it’ll sit with public policy… (it’ll) be something to very much watch over the coming weeks.”Once March arrives, Ontario’s mandatory.