KITCHENER — As many hospitals and health networks across the province choose to chart their own course on mandatory masking rules, some experts are still surprised with the province's choice to pass off the responsibility.
"Yeah, I would have expected that they would have that mandate for hospitals and other health-care systems," said Zahid Butt, assistant professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo.
"We need to be a bit careful about lifting these mask mandates from health-care systems and hospitals because there are a lot of sick and vulnerable people there that could become infected with COVID-19 if you don't have that kind of masking in place."
The province further eased its mandatory masking rules over the weekend, including for hospitals and many other health-care settings. The policies do however remain for long-term care and retirement homes.
Experts say it is clear the mandates do need to sunset at some point but the question is, is that point this point for hospitals.
"You can't have these mandates forever, you have to have a date when these mandates end," said Butt, adding even when the province does choose to lift a mask mandate it does not mean people should simply stop any and all good health behaviour -- like hand washing and sanitizing.
"But I think it's better if you have a mask mandate in hospitals because it tells people that the virus is still here, you could still get infected, or you might also infect people who are at the hospital," Butt said.
Looking locally, all five of our regional hospitals have said they will continue to require masks be worn by staff, patients, and visitors for the time being.
