Dr. Vera Etches: checking for illness remains important as Ontario lifts COVID mandates

Even though the province announced its next steps to easing public health measures in Ontario, Ottawa's medical officer of health still wants people to remain cautious and continue monitoring for COVID-19.

“I'm being guided by the situation in Ottawa when I look at the epidemiology and the level of COVID in the community; we have made progress since the peak of the Omicron wave — things came down very quickly,” Dr. Vera Etches tells CityNews. “They've been more stable over the last couple of weeks, and that means that our hospital situation is very manageable.

“This does provide the environment where we can take the next step. However, it's still a relatively high amount of COVID in our community. So, I would like to see people continue to be very cautious.”

Dr. Etches, who's Ottawa Public Health's medical officer of health, explains wastewater levels continue to decline and the number of COVID-19 outbreaks stabilizes in the city.

But Ontario is making the jump to further ease COVID-19 restrictions, as chief medical officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced on Wednesday, March 9 that mask mandates across the province would lift on March 21.

Dr. Etches says she understands some people might feel anxious about the province's decision but implores people to remain cautious since the pandemic isn't over.

“We have said previously that we must learn to live with COVID-19 in the community,” she writes in a statement released on Wednesday. “This does not mean that the pandemic is over. It means being mindful of the virus’ presence in our day-to-day lives.”

She tells CityNews people should be extra cautious if they live with someone who's immunocompromised, or if they themselves fall under that category.

She adds that in those cases, it's still recommended that people continue wearing masks indoors and following the measures people have been following since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Choose the smaller groups, choose the outdoor activities,” Dr. Etches says. “Just because something isn't required doesn't mean that we need to let these things go.”

She says she understands there may be more close contacts and reported COVID-19 cases once the mask mandate lifts across the province on March 21, but she adds that Ontario is in a better situation than it was last March.

For instance, most older adults and immunocompromised people have three COVID-19 vaccine doses. There's also stronger immunity in the community compared to a year ago.

“We'll need to monitor, and that's what we'll continue to do, is report to the public on what's happening with COVID levels,” she said. “So, people can do that risk assessment and choose the actions that will reduce their risk.”

Since some people are going to stop wearing masks immediately once the province lifts its mandate, she says it's important everyone screens for signs of illness and stays home if they're sick.

“That is still the most important step to keep COVID out of schools,” she says. “And then being very respectful about people's choices; everyone has a different situation at home.”

Even as the mask mandate ends, she says it's always important to consider what's within people's control. While the public can't control the province ending the mask mandate, individuals can control their own actions and ensure they're protected.

“Over the last two years, we've been through a lot, we've learned a lot,” she said. “I'm very thankful. I remain just so impressed by the actions that the people of Ottawa have taken.”

With files from Alex Goudge