The Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore faced some criticism on social media for not wearing a mask during a press conference on Monday, in which she spoke to reporters about the pandemic for the first time in more than a month.
Critics have argued that by wearing masks, Moore was violating federal rules that require returnees to wear masks in public for 14 days.
But in an interview with CP24 on Thursday, Moore said he had done nothing wrong and pointed out that the press conference did not actually take place in public. .
“I keep my distance, I check every day and I have been immunized with four doses. I took off the mask for the press conference. I think it is difficult to wear a mask at the press conference, but I just want to remind people that it is not a public place,” he told “The federal law is that you must wear masks in public, but that was just the members of the press, the vast majority of whom I looked at were also fully covered.”
Moore’s recent vacation came as calls for Ontario residents to address the sixth wave of the pandemic increased.
Sometime last week, when Moore was out of the country, Prime Minister Doug Ford was asked about his absence, but did not acknowledge that Ontario’s top doctor was taking some time.
Instead, Ford defended Moore’s work ethic, noting that “he’s at work 24 hours a day, 7 looking at the data, looking at the statistics.”
Speaking to reporters at a news conference earlier on Thursday, Ford defended his handling of the issue, saying he was “honest.” And that Moore communicated frequently with him and Health Minister Christine Eliot throughout his trip.
“What I understand is that he worked there all the time,” he said. “You know, I just appreciate what Dr. Moore has done. “He is a relentless worker and he does a good job.”
