Although COVID-19 mask-wearing requirements are set to expire Saturday for high-risk indoor settings akin to hospitals, long-term-care properties and public transit, Niagara performing medical officer of effectively being Dr. Mustafa Hirji says it’d nonetheless be too rapidly to remove the security masks present.
“Looking at wastewater info … and the per cent positivity info, to me it appears to be like COVID circulation continues to be comparatively extreme,” Hirji said Monday whereas updating media on the state of the pandemic.
He said ranges of COVID-19 current in wastewater are lowering, nonetheless they’re nonetheless bigger than that they had been sooner than the Omicron wave hit in December. The share of people testing constructive for the virus stays bigger than he would like it to be, too.
“It’s positively on the way in which through which down, nonetheless there could also be nonetheless a substantial amount of hazard in the marketplace from the virus,” he said.
When most provincial an an infection administration measures had been lifted on April 27, Ontario chief medical officer of effectively being Dr. Kieran Moore extended mask-wearing requirements to June 11 for high-risk settings — citing concerns about elevated hazard of an an infection in locations the place people are in shut contact for extended durations of time.
Masks continued to be required for folk using public transit or visiting health-care facilities akin to hospitals, medical workplaces and clinics, along with long-term-care and retirement properties, and totally different congregate care settings.
Niagara Properly being authorities vice-president Linda Boich said the hospital system is pending further steering from the Ministry of Properly being referring to the remaining mask-wearing requirements sooner than it provides an exchange on its subsequent steps.
“The effectively being and well-being of our victims, staff and physicians stays our prime priority,” she said in an e mail. “In the mean time every particular person contained within the hospital ought to proceed to placed on a masks at all times, even once they’re completely vaccinated.”
Niagara Space senior firms director Henriette Koning said she, too, is awaiting provincial steering for the long-term-care properties operated by the municipality.
“We anticipate updated path from the Ministry of Prolonged-Time interval Care shortly to confirm if present masking requirements in LTC properties will in all probability be extended previous June 11,” she said.
Hirji recommends masks proceed to be worn — notably in areas the place prone people are present — until the hazard of an an infection drops further.
“I do suppose there could also be a level later within the summertime the place masks can come off,” he said. “I’m not feeling large optimistic that subsequent week goes to be low enough the place I would actually really feel cozy with that.”
Hirji said he would love Moore to further lengthen the mask-wearing requirement in these locations for about two weeks, “so we’re in a position to see just a little bit deeper into the summer season what points look like.”
“I really feel we’re attending to some extent the place probably it’s safer to do this, nonetheless I don’t suppose we’re at the moment however,” he said.