Masks no longer mandatory in many Ottawa indoor settings
Masks are no longer mandatory in many indoor settings in Ottawa and across Ontario.
The Ontario government has lifted mandatory mask requirements for many places, including gyms, malls, restaurants, bars, grocery stores and within public elementary and secondary schools.
"I’m a little bit excited to not wear masks anymore," said Liam Heikkila, a Grade 1 student.
"It’s good to have some flexibility and option to take the mask off," said Steve Heikkila, Liam’s parent. "I think it’s good for kids to be able to see their classmates faces."
As the mandate lifts, wearing a face covering will remain a personal choice.
"It will be nice to live life without having to do the mask, but I understand that it will be a choice. Especially for those who are immunocompromised. It’s something we should respect," Ottawa resident Mark Smith said.
But many parents are worried about the risk factor in lifting the mandate.
"As a parent I would prefer that some keep the mask on because for some kids they’re not that self disciplined, so they might not be able to keep the distance," said Jennifer Zhou, whose child is in elementary school.
The mask mandate will stay in effect within health care buildings, retirement homes, shelters, jails and on public transit.
For those working in industries where it will be lifted, a sense of normalcy is around the corner.
"With the mask we have to repeat ourselves multiple times and people don’t necessarily understand," said Charlyne Martineau of Headquarters in Ottawa.
Ottawa COVID-19 monitoring show new outbreaks and hospitalizations are currently stable.
Experts say lifting the mandate brings a possibility of a bump in cases.
"I think it’s a bit early. I think they could have waited for at least the winter season to end," said Zahid Butt, an epidemiologist.
Ontario will lift almost all COVID-19 restrictions by April 27.
Ottawa's deputy medical officer of health, Dr. Brent Moloughney, said the province's lifting of mask mandates shifts the individal choice
"It becomes the responsibility of each person, each family to assess their risks and decide whether to wear masks or not," he told CTV Morning Live on Monday. The key, he added, is for people to be respectful of others' choices.
In a statement Sunday Ottawa Public Health said they understand many people feel stressed or anxious about the changes and they encourage people to be respectful of the decisions that individuals and families make.
OTTAWA HOSPITAL CALLS FOR KINDNESS
In a brief thread on Twitter Monday, the Ottawa Hospital urged residents to approach the change with kindness and understanding.
"This is yet another change after two years of many changes. Be kind and support each other however you can," the hospital said.
TOH added that, as a hospital, it has adapted to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic and while some measures will eventually be dropped, others will be kept.
"The pandemic changed how we function inside the hospital. Some of these changes will continue indefinitely as a best practice, while others will transition back to a pre-pandemic state," TOH said.
Masks remain mandatory in hospital settings, and TOH says all visitors will be given a mask when arriving at the screening desk.
"COVID-19 is still in our community, so it’s important to remain cautious. We will monitor the potential impacts of the provincial reopening in the coming days and weeks," the hospital wrote.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.