COVID-19 Update - Directives to be withdrawn
The Government of Ontario announced today that several COVID-19 measures will be withdrawn in the coming weeks.
While the Government has decided that masking requirements will be removed in most places on March 21 this does not include health-care settings. Dentistry is a health care profession and infection prevention and control requirements, including PPE requirements, are essential to the delivery of safe and effective oral health care. The Ministry of Health continues to require that all patients are screened before being treated. N95 respirators (or equivalent) must be used for any patient interactions involving confirmed, suspected or probable COVID-19 cases, as well as for any aerosol generating procedure (AGP), regardless of screening.
In addition, effective March 14, Directive #6 regarding COVID-19 vaccination policies and testing policies will be rescinded. The College continues to strongly recommend that all dentists are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless medically exempted and that all dental practices have a workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy.
The College is reviewing COVID-19: Managing infection risks during in-person dental care in collaboration with public health agencies, relevant experts and the other oral health regulatory Colleges. We will update you when further changes are made.