Ontario is about a month away from dropping all COVID-19 restrictions.
Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet will meet Monday to discuss how and when to lift restrictions, including vaccine passports and mask requirements.
Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer, said last week that he would be putting forward recommendations for a cautious and gradual return to normal.
It’s expected that barring any unforeseen incidents, like a new wave of infections threatening hospital capacity, Moore will recommend an end to all restrictions before March 31. The next step in reopening — allowing restaurants and other businesses to hit full capacity — will also be moved up a couple of days to this weekend instead of next Monday.
This Valentine’s present to the province won’t be welcomed by all.
The protesters currently in Ottawa and those threatening border crossings across the country have said they won’t leave or give up their fight until all federal and provincial restrictions, including vaccine mandates, are gone. The Ford government won’t be dropping restrictions immediately; the restrictions will be phased out over the next month.
“We are absolutely committed to removing public health measures in a timely, evidence-based, science-driven manner,” Moore said last week, while also stressing that any actions would be phased and cautious.
Moore’s comments were in stark contrast to what Health Minister Christine Elliott had said just 24 hours earlier. With jurisdictions around the world announcing an end to vaccine passports and masking requirements, Ontario’s public plan mentioned neither.
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