Indoor masking recommended as province faces triple virus threat

Masking indoors in all public settings – including schools and childcare settings – has been “strongly recommended” by Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.

At a news conference Monday morning, Dr. Kieran Moore noted the province’s health system is facing extraordinary pressure with the triple threat of the COVID-19 virus, an increase in respiratory synctial virus (RSV) as well as influenza.

He recommends all residents get back to using masks stay at home when ill, and get their vaccines and flu shot.

Premier Doug Ford, on Sunday, asked everyone to “wear a mask every time possible,” but did not respond to questions about whether his government would be mandating masks in any settings, only that he would follow Dr. Moore’s direction.

Hospitals in Ontario are dealing with an unprecedented surge of sick children in recent weeks. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto announced Friday it must put off surgeries to re-deploy staff to pediatric wards and intensive care units.

Quinte Health is holding a media conference this afternoon.