Toronto’s top doctor encourages masks in public spaces as Ontario sees 6th wave of COVID-19

Ontario works to deal with sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Dr. Eileen de Villa made the comments during an announcement in Toronto on Monday, regarding third doses of COVID-19 vaccines.The province-wide mask mandate was lifted earlier this month in most public spaces except in “high-risk” areas including medical facilities, long-term care homes and other congregate living situations and on public transit.The mandate for the remaining public spaces is set to be lifted later this month.

Ontario COVID update: 857 people in hospital, 168 in intensive care De Villa said while masks are no longer mandated in most public spaces, individuals can still choose to wear one.“And I encourage you to do so,” she said. “Wear the best quality mask that you have access to, and ensure that it fits well.”De Villa said wearing a mask is a “simple thing that we can all do.”“Especially if you’re older, have older people in your life, have a serious health condition or are simply indoors with people you don’t know,” she said.De Villa said while the mandates were supposed to be temporary, individuals are now armed with tools, including masking and vaccines, to help protect themselves against the virus.She said with “relatively higher, increased activity” of COVID-19 in the community, those who have symptoms should stay home and isolate “to the greatest extent possible, so as to reduce the spread of the disease in the city.”“For the rest of us, clearly, it means monitoring ourselves for signs and symptoms, making sure that we’re taking advantage of vaccine and wearing our masks as much as possible at this point in time,” she said.“I think we have the tools and knowledge available to us at this point to really help see our way through.