Ontario lifts mask mandate, local health units set to follow suit
March 22, 2022Effective Monday, March, 21, 2022, masks are no longer required in retail, schools, and most other indoor public spaces in Ontario.
Masking will still be required on public transit, in long-term care homes, and health-care settings until April 27, 2022. As well, passive screening of individuals prior to entering a business will no longer be required by the province.
RCC, in the process of contacting the majority of local public health units (PHUs), is expecting minimal local variation to mask restrictions following Monday’s rule change.
So far, all PHUs that replied indicated they will have no ongoing orders following March 21, 2022‘s relieving of rules. Some have shared that, while there are no mandatory orders, they continue to recommend:
- Masking of both staff and clients when physical distancing cannot be observed;
- Workplace vaccination policies, and;
- Proof of vaccination policies for clients.
A few health units have yet to provide RCC with information, most notably Durham, York, and Windsor-Essex. Verbal conversations with various health units have hinted that Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is not amenable to regional variations.
For more information, please contact:
Sebastian Prins
Director, Government Relations (Ontario)
sprins@retailcouncil.org
416 467-3759
