Masks for students aged 10 and up recommended by Canada’s public health agency
“Consideration should be given to encourage teachers and staff to wear face masks and eye protection, such as face shields,” the guidelines read. Toronto District School Board trustee Michelle Aarts, who is moving a motion to require masks for all students, staff and visitors, said the federal document provided a thoughtful “living” set of guidelines with flexibility to meet local recommendations and adapt protocols as evidence evolves.
that children may be bigger drivers in the spread of COVID-19 than previously thought, believing the district should “start from the point of most caution.” “It’s not set in stone, and it’s not forever,” she said Sunday. “We can educate and adjust as needed, as things unfold.”The national recommendations also include modifying practices to reduce how long people are in contact with each other. This could include reducing the number of students who use the same space at one time, grouping students into cohorts, and staggering schedules and breaks. Ontario plans to maintain normal class sizes for its reopening. However, the province will restrict students to their class group for the entire day. B.C. will also retain full class sizes but has some parents and educators concerned over “” of up to 60 students in elementary and middle school and up to 120 in high school. The guidelines recommend physical barriers between students, staff and volunteers, such as placing Plexiglas windows or cubicles higher than head height. They also recommend increased ventilation, which can be achieved by moving activities – such as lunch, classes or physical activities – outdoors when possible, opening windows when possible and if weather permits, and increasing air exchanges by adjusting the HVAC system. Patti Bacchus, an education columnist and former chair of the Vancouver School Board, has voiced concern about crowded classrooms with poor ventilation where students will be expected to spend extended periods. “I’ve been watching jurisdictions all over North America, and what groups are recommending, and that’s everything from HEPA air purifiers to circulate and hopefully filter the air, improve ventilation,” she said. “In lots of classrooms, you can’t even open the windows because they’re painted shut.”In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case, schools should have specific policies regarding case and contact management, environmental cleaning and temporary alternative education-delivery models, according to the guidelines. Communication plans should maintain privacy while including audiences such as students, families, school staff and surrounding communities. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines.
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