BREAKING: Ontario drops mask mandate for March 21, all Covid restrictions scrapped for April 27

Ontario will be dropping its mask mandate, and will be scrapping self-isolation requirements for people exposed to COVID or symptom screening requirements as of March 21. Masks will no longer be required at the majority of public spaces by March 21.

All pandemic restrictions will be dropped by the end of April, though "users of public transit and all patients, residents, visitors and staff in hospitals, congregate care settings, jails and the long-term care system will continue to be required to don masks until at least April 27," reports CP24.

"I know a lot of people don't want to keep them on and again, we aren’t leading the way in this, we are kind of middle of the back. It's going to be up to the people of Ontario, if you want to keep the mask on, keep it on," said Ford on Wednesday.

"If you want to take it off, take it off. But we have to move forward from this, people are exhausted and the poor kids in those classrooms too. Like we got to move on."

Those exposed to COVID-19, including the unvaccinated, will no longer need to self isolate and will instead need to refrain from public activities where mask removal would be necessary for 10 days.

They must also not visit high-risk people or visit hospitals for 10 days.

The Reopening Ontario Act and other Covid rules mandating mask use across the hospital sector will expire on April 27.