B.C. expands school mask mandate to all K-12 students
Amid growing pressure from parents and teachers, the B.C. government has expanded its school mask mandate to include all students and staff from kindergarten through Grade 12 across the province.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the new health and safety measure on Friday, citing the recent spike in cases involving children between the ages of five and 11.
"The majority of COVID transmission continues to occur in homes and through social networks," Henry said. "Nevertheless, increased diagnoses has lead to increased numbers of potential exposure events and several school outbreaks have been detected and reported."
Previously, Henry's public health order only required masking for students in Grade 4 through 12. But many parents and educators expressed concerns going into the school year, particularly with the highly contagious Delta variant dominating in Canada as younger children remain ineligible for vaccination.
Several school districts in Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver and Surrey, voted to implement their own expanded mask mandates this week in order to address those concerns.
Henry, who was joined by Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside, said the new masking requirement will help ensure children can continue going to school in-person full time.
"This additional measure we are putting in place today is one more layer that will ensure we can continue to engage and support children throughout this ever-changing pandemic," Henry said.
The expanded mask mandate will take effect on Monday, Oct. 4, and remain in place through the fall semester. Students will be required to keep their mask on while inside schools, including at their desks, and on buses.
Officials acknowledged that some kids, especially young ones, may have difficulty with the new rules, but said they're confident staff will support and encourage them to keep wearing their masks inside classrooms.
Whiteside said teachers are working hard to create a positive environment that encourages children to wear their mask in order to care for one another.
Henry also announced that B.C. will be releasing a new monthly report about the virus and how it affects school-aged children, beginning this month.
Regional medical health officers may still recommend additional school health and safety measures in response to local conditions, according to the Ministry of Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6963200.1720909449!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Donald Trump rushed off stage by Secret Service during rally after loud noises ring out in crowd
Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after loud noises rang through the crowd.
BREAKING Richard Simmons, fitness personality and TV host, dead at 76, per reports
Richard Simmons, the perennial 1980s workout personality who was defined by his uplifting spirit, died in his Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. He was 76.
'Surreal 24 hours': What A-list guests think of Indian billionaire's wedding
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia's richest man, ties the knot this weekend with longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant at a Mumbai wedding dubbed the ceremony of the year – but what was it like to be one of the guests?
A Black man got a job interview after he changed the name on his resume. Now, he's suing for discrimination
A Black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a hotel in Detroit, Mich., alleging the hotel only offered him a job interview after he changed the name on his resume, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by CNN.
Former B.C. Realtor has licence cancelled, $130K in penalties for role in mortgage fraud
The provincial regulator responsible for policing B.C.'s real estate industry has ordered a former Realtor to pay $130,000 and cancelled her licence after determining that she committed a variety of professional misconduct.
Ontario driver has licence suspended for 13-year-old traffic ticket
An Ontario driver was shocked to get a letter in the mail saying her licence had been suspended over a traffic ticket she received 13 years ago.
Should you wait to buy or sell your home?
The Bank of Canada is expected to announce its key interest rate decision in less than two weeks. Last month, the bank lowered its key interest rate to 4.7 per cent, marking its first rate cut since March 2020.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, America’s pioneering sex therapist, dies at 96
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, has died. She was 96.
Kate, Princess of Wales to make rare public appearance at Wimbledon Sunday
The Princess of Wales is set to attend the Wimbledon men's final on Sunday in a rare public appearance after her cancer diagnosis.