Most Ontario mask mandates expire Saturday. Here’s what you need to know

Most COVID-19 mask mandates in Ontario expired Saturday, including the province's remaining mask requirements on public transit and in health-care settings.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, made the announcement Thursday, lauding the province's high vaccination rates and Ontario's COVID-19 situation continuing to improve."

However, the science director of Ontario's COVID-19 advisory table and the Ontario Hospital Association said they would have preferred mask mandates to continue.

Here's what you need to know about the changes, and where masking is still required.

When do Ontario mask requirements expire?

The remaining mask requirements expired at 12 a.m. Saturday, but masks will still be required in long-term-care and retirement homes, to provide an additional layer of protection for the most vulnerable," said Moore in a statement on the province's website.

Remaining provincial directives issued over the course of the pandemic have also been revoked and replaced by guidance from the Ministry of Health for health-care workers and organizations. This includes guidance on when masks should be worn in hospitals and other health-care settings," the statement said.

Where are masks still required?

Although mask requirements are expiring, organizations are still able to implement their own policies, according to the statement.

Ontarians should continue to wear a mask if they feel it is right for them, are at high risk for severe illness, recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms of the virus or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19," it said.

Some health-care settings such as University Health Network and Sunnybrook will still require masks in their hospitals after Saturday.

Provincial mask mandates for public transit also ended Saturday, however the TTC strongly recommends" riders continue to wear masks while using its transit system.

Masks remain mandatory on Wheel-Trans for both staff and customers, as part of a decision made in consultation with its accessible transit advisers, the TTC tweeted this week.

Speaking to residents taking public transit Saturday, several told the Star they removed their masks on public transit as the mandate expired. As dozens exited the subway and Go Trains, about half were wearing masks.

Lourdaes Miere, who had just taken a Go Bus to Union Station on Saturday afternoon, said she opted not to wear a mask on the bus for the first time.

It was weird, but at the same time, I feel like a lot of people before were already not wearing them. But we asked the driver if it was OK," she said. I'll be wearing them in certain spaces still, but it depends on how crowded it is," she said.

Sitting on a bus that wasn't too busy, Miere felt comfortable removing her mask, she said. Being fully vaccinated also made her feel more confident, she said.

Another woman wearing an N95 mask told the Star most people on her Go Train were wearing masks. Thank God ... I was grateful," she said.

Masks and travel

In April, a Florida judge ruled against COVID-19 mask requirements, and travellers were no longer required to wear masks while on U.S. airlines.

However, Canadian travellers and anyone flying in or out of a Canadian airport must continue wearing one as federal COVID rules require.

On Friday, Canada announced it will temporarily suspend mandatory random COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving at Canadian airports, as part of an effort to combat long lineups at screening points.

The measures took effect Saturday and will last until June 30, according to a statement from Transport Canada obtained by the Star.

What are health experts saying?

The Star spoke to several infectious disease experts ahead of the mandate expiring, and they said even if no one around you is wearing a mask, it's still worth it to put one on.

Even though the risk of catching COVID-19 has been reduced due to high vaccination levels and as much of the population has been infected, those who are vulnerable still need protection, said Dr. Sameer Elsayed, a professor of infectious diseases, microbiology, epidemiology and biostatistics at Western University.

If you're in an indoor setting, even if you're socially distanced, if the ventilation isn't that good, you're still at risk for catching something," he said.

High-quality masks are the best option as they can filter out particles that carry the virus, said Marianne Levitsky, an adjunct lecturer at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Blue or white surgical masks, N95s or KN95 masks are the best options, epidemiologists told the Star.

With files from May Warren and The Canadian Press.

Ivy Mak is a team editor on the Star's breaking news desk, based in Toronto. Reach her via email: ivymak@thestar.ca

Olivia Bowden is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star. Reach her via email: obowden@thestar.ca