Although COVID-19 mask-wearing requirements are set to expire Saturday for high-risk indoor settings paying homage to hospitals, long-term-care properties and public transit, Niagara performing medical officer of properly being Dr. Mustafa Hirji says it would nonetheless be too shortly to remove the protection masks present.
“ wastewater data … and the per cent positivity data, to me it seems like COVID circulation stays to be comparatively extreme,” Hirji talked about Monday whereas updating media on the state of the pandemic.
He talked about ranges of COVID-19 current in wastewater are decreasing, nonetheless they’re nonetheless elevated than they’d been sooner than the Omicron wave hit in December. The proportion of people testing optimistic for the virus stays elevated than he would like it to be, too.
“It’s undoubtedly on one of the best ways down, nonetheless there could also be nonetheless a substantial amount of risk in the marketplace from the virus,” he talked about.
When most provincial an an infection administration measures had been lifted on April 27, Ontario chief medical officer of properly being Dr. Kieran Moore extended mask-wearing requirements to June 11 for high-risk settings — citing concerns about elevated risk of an an infection in areas the place individuals are in shut contact for extended intervals of time.
Masks continued to be required for folk using public transit or visiting health-care providers paying homage to hospitals, medical workplaces and clinics, along with long-term-care and retirement properties, and totally different congregate care settings.
Niagara Effectively being govt vice-president Linda Boich talked about the hospital system is pending further steering from the Ministry of Effectively being in regards to the remaining mask-wearing requirements sooner than it offers an change on its subsequent steps.
“The properly being and well-being of our victims, staff and physicians stays our prime priority,” she talked about in an e mail. “Within the interim every particular person contained within the hospital ought to proceed to placed on a masks all the time, even after they’re completely vaccinated.”
Niagara Space senior corporations director Henriette Koning talked about she, too, is awaiting provincial steering for the long-term-care properties operated by the municipality.
“We anticipate updated route from the Ministry of Prolonged-Time interval Care shortly to confirm if current masking requirements in LTC properties is likely to be extended previous June 11,” she talked about.
Hirji recommends masks proceed to be worn — significantly in areas the place weak individuals are present — until the hazard of an an infection drops further.
“I do suppose there’s maybe some extent later within the summertime the place masks can come off,” he talked about. “I’m not feeling super optimistic that subsequent week goes to be low ample the place I might actually really feel comfortable with that.”
Hirji talked about he would like Moore to further delay the mask-wearing requirement in these areas for about two weeks, “so we are going to see somewhat bit deeper into the summer season what points seem like.”
“I consider we’re attending to some extent the place maybe it’s safer to do that, nonetheless I don’t suppose we’re at the moment however,” he talked about.