Toronto’s board of health asked the city’s top doctor Tuesday to consider reinstating mask mandates amid a surge in viral illnesses that’s sending children to hospital at alarming rates. The request came a day after the chief of staff at an Ottawa children’s hospital urged a broad return to indoor masking as the flu, COVID-19 and a childhood virus circulate, saying the public has to play a part in protecting the youngest members of the community.
In Toronto, the public health board passed a motion asking Dr. Eileen de Villa to “urgently explore all avenues toward re-issuing mask mandates, starting with schools.” “I think we really need a renewed sense of urgency,” board member Kate Mulligan said. The request was aimed at reducing the spread of viruses and preventing strain on health-care services for kids. Mulligan recalled a recent “terrifying” experience of taking her young child to the resuscitation room of a local ER, and expressed concern about such resources becoming unavailable if children’s health services are stretched too thin.
She asked public health to look at mask mandates as parents of sick children stare down the threat of a particularly harsh viral season. Toronto public health asks top doctor to ‘urgently explore’ return of mask mandates at schools. De Villa said Toronto Public Health is currently following provincial guidelines — which do not require masks in most settings — but said the city could change course if the situation calls for it.