Is it a sign of what’s to come in Ontario?

An indoor mask mandate is being reinstated Monday in a big American city due to an increase in COVID-19 infections.

Philadelphia has become the first major U.S. city to reinstate an indoor mask mandate since most restrictions were lifted last month.

Lawyers for angry business and restaurant owners filed a lawsuit Saturday to block it before it goes into effect.

Philadelphia public health experts are reporting a 50-percent increase in new COVID-19 cases in ten days.

Thirty-one states and territories across the United States are seeing a similar upward trend, but COVID related hospitalizations remain low.

A similar dynamic with more cases but stable hospitalization rates is happening here in Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford says he is open to continuing the mask mandate beyond the set date of April 27th for long term care homes and public transit.

He has said there are no plans currently to bring back the mask mandate for other indoor public settings.