The province’s mask mandate will officially be lifted as of midnight, but just because the public health requirement is no longer there, doesn’t mean some businesses and organizations won’t still ask people to mask up.
Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, has indicated that while masking is no longer required, it is still highly recommended, especially in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Some businesses have already announced that they will be maintaining their rules on masks after the provincial mandate is lifted. Premier Andrew Furey says that’s the prerogative of each business.
He compares it to the “no shoes, no shirt, no service” policy imposed by some businesses. He expects some businesses will have the same expectations for masks.
In other news, the Word Health Organization, Health Canada and other health experts have recommended the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Public health officials have advised that as increased rates of community transmissions of COVID-19 continue in many areas in Canada and as new variants of COVID-19 virus is identified, it remains important that people wear non-medical face masks when in a shared space- indoors and outdoors- with people from outside immediate household or as advised by local health authorities.