Although actual COVID-19 cases are likely 10 times higher than what is being reported, the province notes that hospitalizations have been declining
Ontario’s chief medical officer has announced that masking mandates could be removed by the end of this month. The news comes even as Ontario’s COVID-19 cases are reported to be likely 10 times higher than what is actually being detected through PCR testing.
Ontario reported 2,200 active cases on March 3, however Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has said that, due to limited testing, the actual number could be upwards of 22,000 cases.
During a briefing on March 3, Moore noted that Ontario is currently focused on surveilling the spread of BA.2, a subvariant of the Omicron strain. BA.2 is 30 per cent more transmissible than the BA.1 subvariant of Omicron, and is expected to be the dominant strain by mid-March. Fortunately for now, there seems to be no increased risk of hospitalization with BA.2.
In fact, COVID-related hospitalizations have dipped slightly in the past few days. In light of this development, Moore said that the province has already passed the worst of the current wave.
Ontario has yet to determine a set date for the end of masking mandates, but it may be sometime after the March break.
During the briefing, Moore also spoke on the discretionary approach to ending mask mandates.
“We can only mandate masking for so long. As long as the risk is decreasing, we will make the decision together as a province to remove them,” said Moore.
He also suggested that those who face higher risks of COVID-19 infection should consider continuing to wear masks in public spaces, even after the masking mandate is dropped.
Local public health officials have announced they will implement changes according to the province’s guidance.
On March 2, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) Public Health announced that the region will drop its mask mandate when Ontario decides to do so.
“Unless there is a specific local reason why we must maintain my mask mandate, my mandate would be removed on [the same day as the province],” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health for the WDG region.
Provincial and local health officials continue to work together to track ongoing developments in Ontario’s COVID-19 case count and encourage people to get their booster dose whenever possible.
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