Ontario reports 11

Ontario will lift mask mandates on public transit on Saturday but they'll remain mandatory in long-term care and retirement homes, the province's chief medical officer of health says.

Dr. Kieran Moore said in a news release on Wednesday that most mask mandates will end on June 11 at 12:00 a.m.

Moore said Ontario's COVID-19 situation, with the help of high vaccination rates, continues to improve.

He said masking is recommended in higher-risk congregate living settings, such as shelters and group homes.

"While masking requirements are expiring, organizations may implement their own policies," Moore said in the release.

"Ontarians should continue to wear a mask if they feel it is right for them, are at high risk for severe illness, recovering from COVID-19, have symptoms of the virus, or are a close contact with someone with COVID-19."

COVID-19 hospitalizations down slightly 

more COVID-19 deaths, 522 hospitali

The announcement came after Ontario reported 522 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 11 more deaths on Wednesday.

Provincial masking requirements in areas such as public transit, health care settings, long-term care homes, and retirement homes were initially set to expire on April 27, but that deadline was extended earlier this year to June 11.

Wednesday's reported hospitalizations are slightly down from 526 on Tuesday and 722 on the same day last week.

According to the Ontario health ministry, 41 percent of those hospitalized were admitted specifically for the virus, while the rest were admitted for other reasons and then tested positive.

zations on Wednesday