After almost two years of COVID-19 restrictions and public health mandates, the provincial government has announced a timeline for removing all public health restrictions, including mask mandates.
Effective March 14:
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Mandatory vaccination policy for employees in long-term care homes is lifted
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Unvaccinated workers in hospitals and other high-risk healthcare settings will no longer have to partake in regular rapid testing
Effective March 21:
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Masking requirements will be removed in most settings including: schools, restaurants and bars, gyms, movie theatres, shopping centres, etc.
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Remaining measures in schools including cohorts and on-site symptom screening are removed
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Remaining regulatory requirements for businesses are removed, including passive screening and having a COVID-19 safety plan
Effective April 27:
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Mask requirements are removed in all remaining settings
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All remaining orders under the Reopening Ontario Act expire
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Remaining health-care directives are lifted, however, the government will still direct health-care workers to wear personal protective equipment
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After this date, masks will not be mandatory but will be encouraged and highly recommended for those who are immunocompromised, at high risk, or who choose to still use them.
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