Over the course of 2022, Canadian provinces and territories lifted mask mandates amid an increasingly vaccinated population, as did many Western nations.
But now, nearly three years into the pandemic, infectious disease experts and those who work on the frontlines of the health-care system are urging Canadians to don masks again as hospitals grapple with a tidal wave of multiple illnesses, including COVID-19.
Cases of RSV have spiked abnormally this fall and are packing hospital emergency rooms with sick children, health-care workers report, as a shortage of children鈥檚 medication is worrying parents. Simultaneously, Canada is now officially in a flu epidemic, according to the federal public health agency, and there is increased concern from officials and public health experts about how new variants of COVID-19 could impact the population as the public heads indoors due to the cold weather.
And while federal health officials are strongly recommending Canadians wear masks indoors, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said on Nov. 10 that it鈥檚 up to provinces and territories to make decisions on whether to implement mandates.
"Although no individual layer of protection is perfect, when used consistently and together, vaccine plus layers can provide excellent protection against COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases we may encounter," said Tam at a press conference Nov. 10.
As well, only half of Canadians have received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,
But several jurisdictions have stopped short of issuing a mask mandate, instead opting to recommend masks are worn.
The absence of new mandates comes as a recent survey by NANOS research showed that seven in 10 Canadians would support the return of face masks to some extent. Fifty-two per cent said they鈥檇 support mandates.
Here鈥檚 what the provinces and territories are doing around masks.
Health officials in B.C. say they are not bringing back a mask mandate at this time.
The Ministry of Health told Nov.15 that through COVID-19 infection and vaccination, there is a high amount of population immunity.
The province鈥檚 health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, told reporters at a press conference Nov.16 that the 鈥渉eavy hand鈥 of a mandate is not currently needed to send the message that masks are an 鈥渋mportant tool鈥 that can be used in every respiratory season.
鈥淲e should have one with us, we should use it in situations where it makes sense,鈥 she said.
B.C. officials also said that the cases of RSV in Ontario are 鈥渕ore serious鈥 than in B.C. and about a quarter of capacity was available in B.C. hospitals for pediatric ICU beds as of this week.
Getting children vaccinated is currently what鈥檚 needed the most, the ministry told 愛污传媒 Vancouver.
In Alberta, premier Danielle Smith told reporters Nov. 14 that masking is a personal choice and those who want to wear one, can. Her message comes as the province, particularly schools, are battling influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
She said the government is focused on acquiring more children鈥檚 pain medication and ensuring hospitals can meet demand.
reported that absenteeism in Edmonton鈥檚 public schools reached close to 14 per cent earlier this month. Catholic schools reported that about 15 per cent of students were absent due to illness as of Nov. 14..
On Nov. 14, Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman told reporters that mask mandates have not been a discussion with the province鈥檚 chief medical officer of health, Dr. Saqib Shahab.
Merriman said it鈥檚 an individual's choice whether they鈥檇 like to wear one. At the same press conference, Shahab said requiring masks in schools 鈥減robably is not a feasible thing at this point鈥 and 鈥渕ay not be helpful.鈥
Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson said the province has no plans to reinstate a mask mandate.
However, she did encourage those 鈥渦nder the weather鈥 to 鈥減rotect others鈥 and health-care workers. She did not specify what that protection would entail.
reports that the province is seeing increased hospital admissions, especially among children, for RSV and other illnesses. In a press conference on Nov. 22, health officials said they would not issue a mask mandate but emphasized that vaccination and wearing a mask indoors would help protect individuals.
At a press conference Nov. 14, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario鈥檚 chief medical health officer, said he is
Hospitals in the province have reported they are dealing with an overwhelming number of sick children and pediatric ICU units are operating above capacity,
Influenza and RSV are driving the admissions and the wave of infections has arrived earlier in the fall season than in
Moore said the 鈥渄ifficult and complex鈥 fall that was predicted has come to fruition and that COVID-19, influenza and RSV are circulating and Ontario must 鈥渦se all layers of protection we have.鈥
However, Moore said he was not introducing a mask mandate as it hasn鈥檛 worked in social settings in the past and the announcement he鈥檚 made about recommendations is in an effort to get the public 鈥渂ack to basics鈥 when it comes to infection prevention.
鈥淭his is protecting our children and those that are the youngest among us. Please parents, grandparents, siblings: If you have any respiratory symptoms, you must mask around those that are vulnerable,鈥 he said.
But Moore said if the pressure on the health-care system continues to increase, a mask mandate would be the 鈥渇urthest鈥 the province goes when it comes to health restrictions.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also the day before Moore鈥檚 announcement, but did not issue a mandate.
In a move similar to Ontario, ov. 16 that he strongly recommended the public wear masks amid a 鈥渟picy cocktail鈥 of viruses that are impacting hospitals, which include COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
He also recommended handwashing, and that the public stay home if they are sick.
Quebec鈥檚 Premier Fran莽ois Legault ov. 15 that he recommends residents wear a mask in public settings, but added that it was up to an individual鈥檚 preferences.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a citizen responsibility,鈥 he said.
New Brunswick has not reissued a mask mandate. 愛污传媒 Atlantic interviewed several Maritime residents who had mixed opinions on
But while many said they鈥檇 be sad to see masks worn again, they would wear one if they needed to in order to protect others.
愛污传媒 Atlantic reached out to the Department of Health in New Brunswick regarding mandates on Nov. 14 and was told that if the 鈥渟ituation changes public health will determine a new approach.鈥
Nova Scotia has not announced any mask mandates since public health requirements around wearing masks ended in July.
愛污传媒 Atlantic contacted on Nov. 14 regarding mandates and their request for an interview was declined.
In an emailed statement, the office said: 鈥淧ublic health continues to assess recommendations and will inform Nova Scotians if any changes are made鈥
Prince Edward Island has not reissued a mask mandate for the general public. However, the province still has a mask mandate for hospitals, long-term care homes and community care homes.
In an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca on Nov. 17, the province said PEI is experiencing an increase in respiratory illnesses, like other provinces.
鈥淭he mask mandate remains in place for hospitals, and long-term care and community care homes in PEI. At this time, there is no public mask mandate in place,鈥 said Morgan Martin, a senior communications officer for the province鈥檚 department of health and wellness.
At a press conference Nov. 15, , said she can鈥檛 implement a mask mandate as the province isn鈥檛 currently experiencing a public health emergency.
Fitzgerald said she recommends masks be worn in places that are deemed higher risk for COVID-19 and other illness spread.
Recommendations 鈥渕ay become stronger as time goes on鈥 and the government is continuing to monitor the situation and will make decisions based on the evidence, she said.
Newfoundland and Labrador are not seeing the same surges in illness as other provinces, she added.
Yukon has made no moves toward re-issuing a mask mandate. The territory removed most health measures in March 2022 and removed mask mandates in schools on May 24.
According to the territory鈥檚 website, masking remains a recommendation. The territory dropped its Public Health Orders on April 1, 2022.
However, masking is particularly recommended in several scenarios including if someone has tested positive for COVID-19, if they are caring for an individual who has tested positive and for those who are at higher risk of catching COVID-19.
Nunavut has not announced they are implementing a mask mandate and the territory lifted restrictions around masks in July.
However, masks are still required in community health centres, Elders鈥 facilities and in the Qikiqtani General Hospital that requires patients and staff to wear masks.
With files from 愛污传媒 Edmonton, 愛污传媒 Atlantic, 愛污传媒 Winnipeg, 愛污传媒 Vancouver and The Canadian Press
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