Ontario’s health minister says there is no need to reimpose a widespread mask mandate in the province despite evidence of increased COVID-19 spread, alluding to advice from the province’s chief medical officer and other medical advisers.Christine Elliott made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.She acknowledged that while there has been an increase in hospitalizations and other COVID-19 numbers, that was expected as the province opened up.
Ontario COVID update: 1,091 people in hospital, 173 in intensive care “It’s not unanticipated that this would happen,” Elliott said.“This is something that when you’re opening up the province to the degree that we have, and with the transmissibility of this virus, that we expected to see the numbers increase.
But we have over 3,100 extra beds. We have the capacity. We also have a highly vaccinated population. We have the antivirals ready as well.
So we have the measures that we need to deal with this.”Meanwhile on Tuesday, Quebec announced it will prolong its mask requirement in public places through the month of April as the sixth wave of the pandemic brings an increase in hospitalizations and cases.“It’s not over yet and we have to stay vigilant,” said Dr.