Nursing homes are one of the few places where mask mandates remain after the province lifted most such requirements in June.

That’s also when Ontario’s chief medical officer said he would recommend keeping the long-term mask mandate in effect until at least the summer of 2023.

However, a COVID-19 guidance document on an Ontario government website says the rules were changed last Friday, though there was no public announcement.

Other changes that also took effect then include, ending the active screening requirement; so visitors no longer have to confirm in person or online that they’re symptom free, ending a limit of 4-visitors per-resident at a time for indoor visits, and no longer requiring testing of residents when they return from an absence.

Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra, who happened to visit a nursing home last Friday to promote vaccination, did not mention the changes, saying measures like masking ”in all public areas” of homes would ”continue” to be required.