Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is defending the decision to end the mask mandate on March 21.
Some are calling it ill-time, even a political move.
Dr. Kieran Moore disputes that.
“My decision making and recommendations to government have not been effected by any understanding of the political system. That they are based on evidence and science and that we followed a phased and staged approach.”
Dr. Moore notes case numbers are holding steady while immunization rates continue to increase.
However he stresses the measure could come back if the number of COVID cases and hospitalization rates go up again.
Dr. Moore says robust testing, likely in the fall, will determine that.
“We’re going to have a testing strategy that will allow, through PCR, to detect multiple different viruses. So whether it’s Influenza A, Influenza B, RSB, and/or COVID-19 and that surveillance system will be put in play through emergency departments and primary care,” says Dr. Moore.
