With the province’s plan to drop COVID-19 mandates, such as masks in public, in the near future, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health says he will follow suit.
With the province’s plan to drop COVID-19 mandates, such as masks in public, in the near future, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health says he will follow suit.
Dr. David Colby addressed the issue during Thursday’s weekly media call.
“Chatham-Kent will be following the provincial lead on this and not taking its own course,” he said.
Colby did say he shared the concern of the province’s science table that there should be more time to evaluate the “previous dispensing of restrictions,” such as gathering limits.
“That being said … I’m not particularly concerned about the cessation of masking,” he said. “Because things like vaccination and physical distancing, which are no longer mandated in so many settings, are more important than that.
“Masks are mainly useful for source control. They stop you from disseminating what you’re carrying to others in your vicinity. They are a little bit protective, but not very protective. Unless you resort to a very sophisticated type of mask, a custom-fitted N95 mask, but I don’t believe that’s necessary in community settings.”
Colby expects many people and organizations will still continue to use precautions as they see fit.
He also said he would like to see more people vaccinated across the spectrum.
“It is what it is. There’s been ample opportunity for people to get vaccinated in Chatham-Kent,” he said.
On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontarians will be able to decide for themselves whether they want to continue wearing a face covering once the masking mandate ends in most public places on March 21.
No one should face criticism for the choice to wear or not wear a mask, he added.
“If someone wants to wear a mask, all the power to them,” the first said Thursday. “That’s going to be their option. … They’re going to make that decision.”
Ford said he will continue to wear a mask in hospitals or long-term care homes, although face coverings do remain mandatory in most congregate-care settings until April 27.
Ontario chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore had released his recommendations Wednesday on reopening the province, advising the general mask mandate end March 21 for schools and most public places.
The province plans to end all major pandemic directives and orders on April 27.
Moore added that masking mandates may need to be brought back if a new variant emerges or during winter months when viruses have greater chance to circulate indoors.
However, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath believes people deserve more clarity from the government on what’s driving its timetable for removing public-health measures.
“At a time when we’re still facing COVID, we’re still dealing with this pandemic, to not provide any justification, any evidence as to why you’re making these decisions, it’s really selling people short and it makes people worry, ” she said.
Provincially, there were 2,125 new cases of the virus on Thursday.
A total of 742 people were hospitalized, with 46 per cent admitted for COVID-19 and 54 per cent admitted for other reasons but testing positive.
There were 244 people in intensive care, with 79 per cent admitted for COVID-19 and 21 per cent admitted for other reasons but testing positive.
Chatham-Kent reports its COVID-19 numbers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
– With Postmedia files