TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK: ‘TIS TODAY’S QUESTION DU JOUR EVERYWHERE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Day 1 of unmasking looked a little different than yesterday.

No longer the law, face covering were still evident on some faces, notably those remaining apprehensive about Monday’s mandate change.

On the streets, the cautious kept them tight around their noses; freedom-seekers were ready to tan their lower cheeks; and those with mixed emotions wore them slug on their chins — just in case.

It wasn’t just an age thing — young vs. old — as comfort and conformity clashed.

Many businesses may still require customers to wear masks.

Hospitals still do require them.

Andy Long is 81 and had one on on Gravenhurst’s main street this morning.

“It’s no problem,” he said. “I’m used to it. And if it helps that’s OK,” said the Buck Lake resident who says he’s gotten this far without COVID.

So why change now?

Other shoppers on Muskoka Road window-shopped face-free.

Students in Gravenhurst’s downtown elementary and high schools were pretty much of the same mind.

“It was a personal choice,” said GHS principal Trent Willett, as he watched students board buses for home this afternoon.

He said it was the same for teachers.

Students said they didn’t see too many keeping covered up, though those who did could be easily seen leaving classes at bell time.

Seth Macaulay, a Grade 11 student, said he wore his today because his co-op placement still required it.

They didn’t take part in walk-outs advocating for use, as some other Ontario school students did at 11 a.m.

Hammond school bus driver Gord Milburn said only a few of his riders this morning chose to mask up when boarding.

A couple of younger girls from one family did, but their siblings didn’t.

Dr. Peter Jüni, who now heads Ontario’s COVID-19 science advisory table, still encourages people to wear masks in busy indoor environments.

Jüni told the CBC “It’s just not pretending it’s over, ‘There’s a light switch and tomorrow we go back to pre-pandemic.’ We’re not.”

Most indoor settings including in schools, restaurants, gyms and stores public transit, health-care facilities, long-term care homes and congregate care settings require masks.

Health officials everywhere will be watching this week to see if cases rise following the March break and the lifting of the mask mandate today.

Remaining restrictions in Ontario will be lifted at the end of April.

Students streaming out of GHS this afternoon on the first day that mask mandates were lifted across Ontario were mostly maskless — with a few exceptions. Principal Tent Willett said they were optional for students and teachers.
Seth Macaulay wore his mask to school and said it was mandatory for his co-op placement.
Bella Roper, left, and her brother Blayse, 4, were picked up at GPS by Kevin Buker who had his mask.
Bus driver Gord Milburn said most of his student riders were comfortable without masks — but everyone.

55 to 63 cases in Simcoe-Muskoka

This as local public health reports 55 cases today, according to their HealthSTATS.

But Public Health Ontario (PHO) put the number at 63 — and 81 the day before.

Ontario-wide there were 1,217 cases and 3 deaths.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported 21 in hospital with 5 in ICU as of Sunday night.

No new deaths were reported over the weekend.

MONDAY: CONFIRMED PHO COVID CASES: 63 IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (81 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,217 AND 3 DEATHS (1689); 551 IN HOPITAL (551); 181 IN ICU (183) … TORONTO 264 (380) … YORK 95 (82) … PEEL 60 (82) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 9 (13) …

Hospitalizations remained at 20 with 5 in ICU.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 37,246 confirmed cases to date (*though provincial health officials warn those numbers are more likely to be tenfold)
  • 55 this week
  • 580 last week, 33% higher than the 435 cases the week before
  • 14 deaths in March, 52 in February, 74 in January
  • From July 18 to March 20 the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 4 times higher than it is for those who have received at least two vaccine doses, the rate of COVID-19 ICU admissions is 8 times higher and the rate of deaths is 3 times higher.
  • 1,280,239 vaccines have been administered
  • 497,499 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 81% of the total population
  • 85% of the population 5+ have had at least one dose of vaccine including 81% of youth 12 to 17
  • 49% of children 5 to 11 have also received at least one dose of vaccine
Andy Long says he’s gotten along with a mask avoiding COVID and sees no reason to take it off now.

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