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COVID-19 public health measures and advice

By March 21, 2022News

March 21, 2022 Update

As indicated on this website, COVID-19 public health measures and advice, the Government of Ontario is cautiously and gradually easing public health and workplace safety measures over the coming weeks and hopes to end all remaining measures, directives and orders by April 27, 2022.

The website also notes the following:

The following changes to public health and workplace safety measures are in effect as of March 21, 2022.

  • general masking requirements will be lifted; however, masking will still be required in certain indoor settings, including:
    • public transit, including indoor areas and vehicles. This does not include businesses or organizations that provide sightseeing or touring services
    • health care settings including:
      • hospitals
      • psychiatric facilities
      • doctors’ offices
      • immunization clinics
      • laboratories
      • specimen collection centres
    • home and community care provider locations only if you are an employee or contractor
    • long-term care and retirement homes
    • shelters and other congregate care settings that provide care and services to medically and socially vulnerable individuals

For a complete list of settings and exceptions to masking requirements that may apply, please refer to O. Reg. 364/20.

Visit the face covering and masking page, for additional information including wear and fit.

Also as of March 21, 2022:

  • passive screening of individuals prior to entering a business will no longer be required
  • businesses and organizations that are open will no longer be required to prepare and make available a safety plan

Given the above, RPs and their clients are required to continue wearing masks in indoor settings unless an exception applies.

While RPs are no longer required to prepare a safety plan, which includes maintaining a confidential log of all persons coming into the setting, client screening is an effective infection prevention and control tool. CRPO encourages RPs to continue to screen their clients and implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures.

Regarding the lifting of additional measures intended to be introduced on April 27, 2022, CRPO encourages registrants to consider continuing to wear masks in indoor situations when warranted. Factors to consider include personal health and vaccination status, whether a mask can be worn consistently, how long an interaction will be, ventilation in a space, the level of COVID-19 in the community, and whether unvaccinated or vulnerable people might be present.

Clients and RPs might have individual preferences regarding masking. When masking mandates are lifted in health care settings, RPs are encouraged to discuss these preferences with their clients before each in-person appointment and to continue to use their professional judgement to determine if in-person services are appropriate.

As well, RPs are encouraged to continue to monitor Ministry of Health guidance as well as the CRPO COVID-19 page for updates.

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