Mask and vaccination mandate continues at North Bay hospital

You'll still need to wear a mask if you visit the North Bay Regional Hospital.

"Health care settings are not included in the masking mandate change happening Monday for many settings in Ontario," says spokeswoman Lindsay Smylie Smith.

"NBRHC’s mask mandate does not end on Monday. Staff, patients and care partners entering our Health Centre will continue to be screened and wear masks. At this time, we have not changed the mandatory vaccination requirement for Care Partners and will continue to require proof of vaccination before entering the hospital.

"The safety of our patients and our hospital community is, and always has been our number one priority."

Ontario will drop most mask mandates on Monday March 21, including in schools, restaurants and stores.

The remaining pandemic rules will be lifted by the end of April.

Vaccination and masking policies for students, staff, and faculty members of both Canadore College and Nipissing University will remain in effect for now.

See: Local post-secondary schools continuing vaccination and masking policies until end of term

Following guidance from the Council of Ontario Universities and "to minimize uncertainty and disruption and to continue to support our students, staff, faculty and university communities, Ontario’s universities, including Nipissing, will maintain their COVID-19 vaccination and masking policies until at least the end of the current term."

At Canadore College, the current academic delivery model will remain in place until the end of the winter semester — in April for most programs. This includes a requirement for Canadore students and employees to wear a three-layer procedure mask while on campus. According to Canadore, this protocol will remain in place until Public Health Ontario rescinds the requirement.

With files from Stu Campaigne.