Ontario to remove masking requirement on March 21, 2022

Ontario will be removing its mandatory mask and face covering requirement in most indoor spaces – including in retail, restaurant and office settings as well as schools – as of March 21, 2022.

Masking will still be required on public transit, in long-term care homes, and health-care settings until April 27, 2022.

In addition, an update is coming to the contact management and isolation rules. New guidance will be issued stating that people who have their third booster, or who’ve previously tested positive for COVID-19, need not self-isolate when exposed to a household member who tests positive.

To support members as governments transition away from mandatory masking in indoor settings, RCC has completed a member survey to provide sight lines into what policies other retailers plan to voluntarily continue – click here for that document. 

A few highlights include:

• Almost all retailers will support staff if they choose to wear masks even if they are not required to do so. 
• Many retailers will maintain messaging – signs or otherwise – indicating that customers may continue to wear masks, but that they are not required to do so.
• Many will also continue to provide sanitizers and other health and safety tools, such as plexiglass shields at cash desks, for customers as a means of continuing to provide added protection to their associates and customers.