Ontario's health minister says masking will be important for some time to come as Alberta and Saskatchewan take steps to get rid of nearly all COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says Ontario is tracking on the best-case projections and COVID-19 hospitalizations are dropping.

But, she says the province is "not in the clear yet."

Elliott says Ontario will ease restrictions as soon as it's safe to do so, but proof-of-vaccine and masks will be around for a while yet.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Ontario hospitals today is down to 2,059 from 2,254 yesterday.

Saskatchewan and Alberta announced those provinces would get rid of COVID-19 passports, mandatory masks and nearly all other public health rules in the coming weeks.