Some Toronto restaurants, bars, shops and hotels continue public health measure as Ontario lifts mask mandates

🕘 11.5 min read

Effective today, Ontario mask mandates are lifted in most indoor settings including schools, community centres, retail and grocery stores, gyms, and restaurants.

Mask still required

However, don’t ditch your mask quite yet. While it’s no longer required to don a mask in these settings, some municipalities including Mississauga have issued their own by-laws keeping mask mandates in effect.

Despite the province’s rules, the public school board for the city of Hamilton, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, is keeping the mandate until April 1 . Toronto District School Board, the largest school board in Ontario, asked for extension, but was denied. High school students organized a walkout in protest of the mandates. 

Boarding a flight, train or cruise ship in Canada? Be prepared to mask up.  And masks are also still required in “high-risk and congregate settings” including public transit and long-term care homes.

Too soon?

Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table’s ‘Update on COVID-19 Projections’ published March 17, 2022, five days prior to end of the public health measure, includes: “Masks are still an effective public health measure to reduce COVID-19 transmission,” and “Ontarians should: Use high-quality masks whenever necessary to protect vulnerable people or themselves.”

According to a news release by Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO), the provincial government’s decision to drop the mask mandate “puts politics ahead of science, risking gains made.” The release also quotes RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun: "It's premature and runs the risk of undoing the gains made to contain the spread of COVID-19," adding "in addition to vaccination, the mask mandates are the most important defenses against the virus.”

On Monday Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, said “my strong recommendation is to continue using a mask to protect themselves and people around them. Just because it’s no longer a rule doesn’t mean that you have to stop doing it.” Even Premier Doug Ford isn’t ready to scrap his mask just yet.

The decision to wear a mask in most indoor indoor settings is now up to businesses owners, staff, and individuals.

Ready to roll

As masks are no longer mandatory at this time, staff at establishments including Ossington bar Paris Paris and Yorkville stalwart Trattoria Nervosa will follow the same rules.  

That goes for Chef Daniel Boulud's award-winning French brasserie nestled in the Four Seasons Hotel Café Boulud as well, however a spokesperson told Toronto Restaurants, “If a guest requests for their server to wear one, they will comply with the request.”

You do you

Numerous establishments are leaving it optional for staff including east side watering hole Farside, upscale Hexagon Restaurant in Oakville, iconic Toronto diner Patrician Grill, Little Italy’s French casual fine dining destination Pompette and new sibling Bar Pompette, and recent arrival 1 Hotel. Brunch bakery Pasaj in Leslieville is letting staff decide, and it appears the front of house team has decided to keep masks on “for the time being.”

A message posted on Farside Toronto’s Instagram.

Still in effect

A number of establishments staff aren’t ready to unmask just yet.  The staff at Good Cheese in East Chinatown “will continue to wear them for the time being,” all team members at Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village will continue to wear masks while working “for the foreseeable future, and the crew at one of the buzziest new arrivals, Mimi Chinese, will likely be wearing them for a few more weeks. 

The folks of newly opened Korean restaurant Orote and staff at one of the city’s newest hotels Park Hyatt Toronto are keeping them on, and employees at Scaramouche will continue to wear masks in the dining room.

Encouraged, not required 

At acclaimed Canadian restaurant Richmond Station, masks will be voluntary. Owner Ryan Donovan told Toronto Restaurants, “We aim to be a ‘mask positive’ space. If our guests and staff feel more comfortable wearing a mask at the restaurant, we encourage it as well. Moreover, our expectation is that everyone accepts the choice of our guests and peers should they choose to mask up.”

Cabbagetown’s Fattoush Levantine Diner confirmed staff will “still be wearing masks until further notice” and “encourage our customers to wear them when they visit.”

All staff will continue to wear masks at Primrose Bagel Co. “as we continue to navigate the safest course of action for our team and our customers, while customers can make their own decision when entering the shop,” as per a message posted on social media. The message includes a graphic (below) with “Masks are still encouraged but not required by customers.”

A graphic posted on Primrose Bagel’s Instagram.

A time of transition

In compliance with the provincial and local masking guidelines, staff members are not required to wear a masks, however countless businesses are sharing messages of support for the choice customers make and many are asking for patience and understanding during this time of transition.

Pilot Coffee Roasters posted on social media: “If you're wearing a mask, that's fine! If you're not, that's fine too! Let's respect each others' personal choices and be kind to one another.” 

Peter Sanagan, owner of Sanagan’s Meat Locker shared on social media that staff will be required to continue to wear masks while working. “Given that we are working in close contact with each other for long periods, we believe it is good practice to protect each other at this time,” but “everyone will be welcome in the stores.” He ended the message with “Finally, I just wanted to say that we were all just getting used to capacity restrictions being lifted, and I know this new change came quickly and surprisingly to many in the retail and hospitality sector. I also know that this is another step towards learning how to live with Covid long-term. Whether the timing is right is certainly debatable, but it was going to happen at some point. And just as we've done throughout the last two years, Sanagan's will continue to adjust our expectations and behaviours with the times. I am very proud of how my team has managed with all of the changes during the pandemic, and wholeheartedly thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we constantly adapt.” 

While some businesses are choosing to forego masks and all other precautions, pastry chef/owner of Glory Hole Doughnuts, Ashley Jacot De Boinod, is keeping her shops as is - no one is allowed inside and customers are still required to wear a mask outside the for both ordering and pickup. Her message on social media reads, in part: “We are hoping that we can slowly return to some sort of normalcy in a bit but for now, we are just doing our best and trying to be as safe as possible. Please refrain from yelling or being abusive to our wonderful staff. Some of our team members are immune comprised and are at higher risk than some. We also have 2 pregnant womyn working as well. Let’s be kind and gentle to each other while we all navigate through this.”

Erring on the side of caution

In addition to the province no longer mandating mask use in most indoor public settings, today also marks the end to symptom screening, safety plans, and self-isolation for those exposed to COVID-19. (O. Reg. 364/20)

It hasn’t been long - just over three months - since the Ontario government announced new measures and restrictions, in response to the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. The hospitality industry, along with other sectors, was hit with a 50 per cent capacity limit, as well as closing and alcohol sale time reductions  and other constraints. Indoor dining was banned again as of January 5, then brought back to half capacity once more along with the easing of other public health measures, on January 31. This follows a constant barrage of lockdowns, reopenings and new measures enforced for bars, restaurants and other food and drink businesses across the province. Understandably, many remain wary.

While the government has deemed in addition to other mandates, masks are no longer required in these settings, owners and staff must decide what’s best for them at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is “far from over.” In fact, proof of vaccination is still required in some settings (select restaurants also kept it in place), so it’s no surprise many remain trepidatious about how to proceed or that several businesses have chosen not to publicize their stance for fear of being targeted.

All remaining masking mandates and emergency orders are set to expire on April 27, 2022.

Stay tuned for developments and updates.

***

Note: Above policies, in effect at press time, are subject to change. Please contact establishments directly for more information.

---

For more information about COVID-19 and vaccinations, visit the Ontario Health website.

Get caught up on the latest Toronto restaurant news and COVID updates.

Stay informed and up-to-date. For breaking news, developments and more follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter.