One of the last reminders of the COVID-19 pandemic is going by the wayside.

Health care facilities have required people to wear masks for the past couple years, however, those restrictions are all but being eliminated as of today. All visitors to hospitals, patients and staff can now be there without masking up.

Staff and physicians received a memo on Friday, indicating that continuous masking would no longer be a requirement in facilities within Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. Masking will continue based on point of care risk assessment for staff, patients and visitors upon entry to heath centres.

Newfoundland and Labrador did away with mandatory masks over a year ago, but the health care system declined to follow suit. Now, COVID-related masking will, for the most part, be optional.