Thinking of tossing the mask after that 2nd dose? Here's what Simcoe Muskoka needs to know
Nearly 22 per cent of Simcoe Muskoka residents have had both COVID-19 shots, and starting Monday, every adult 18 and older who had an mRNA first dose is eligible to get fully vaccinated.
So once residents are fully vaccinated, can face masks finally be a thing of the past?
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, fully vaccinated residents will be able to leave the face mask at home more often.
The agency said that while all residents must continue to follow public health guidelines, restrictions can ease for those with both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
In an information chart, the agency says vaccine status doesn't matter when someone is meeting fully vaccinated people in a small outdoor group; therefore, no face mask for physical distancing is required.
For small indoor groups where everyone in attendance is fully vaccinated, there is no need to wear a mask or keep your distance.
A fully vaccinated person can ditch the face mask when attending a large outdoor gathering where vaccine status is unknown among those in attendance. But anyone who hasn't had both doses should mask up.
Face masks are suggested for concert-style settings regardless of vaccine status.
Additionally, the agency noted anyone who could have added health risks should maintain personal safety measures.
Currently, 64 per cent of Simcoe Muskoka residents have had their first shot.
DELTA VARIANT FOURTH WAVE CONCERNS
Simcoe Muskoka's medical officer of health said he anticipated the Delta variant to dominate COVID-19 cases across the region and even the province.
"It's important to assume that change to Delta dominance among COVID-19 cases is happening everywhere in our District," Gardner said earlier this week. "Because it's more transmissible, it will become more dominant across the province," he noted.
New COVID-19 federal modelling released Friday indicates the Delta variant poses a real risk of a winter resurgence.
Despite the information released by the Public Health Agency of Canada days before the province enters Step 2 of its reopening plans, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam recommends maintaining personal protective measures, like wearing masks, regardless of vaccine status.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Remembering legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole. Oh baby, what a life
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.