After months of pressure and climbing COVID infections in children, the province has now made masks mandatory for B.C. students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 4, all B.C. students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will be required to wear face masks while at their desks and on buses.

The public health office has also committed to releasing a new monthly report that will detail the impact COVID-19 is having on school-aged children.

sa国际传媒淭his pandemic continues to evolve and so do we,sa国际传媒� said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. sa国际传媒淲e need to make changes to fit the situation as itsa国际传媒檚 arising. We know the COVID-19 virus is being transmitted more rapidly, particularly to those who donsa国际传媒檛 have the protection that vaccination offers. This extra measure adds another layer of protection as we navigate this phase of the pandemic.sa国际传媒�

Safety guidelines allow options for schools to reduce congestion in hallways, as well as staggering start times and breaks for students. Henry recommended that schools try to enact these policies as best they can.

At a news conference, B.C. Teachers Federation president Teri Mooring welcomed the new mask mandate sa国际传媒� the BCTF has called for a Ksa国际传媒�12 mask mandate since before the start of the school year. Mooring added that shesa国际传媒檚 grateful for the additional information set to come from the province.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e still working around ventilation information being supplied to schools and families,sa国际传媒� Mooring said. sa国际传媒淲e know that there are places where thatsa国际传媒檚 happening and places where that information is not forthcoming.sa国际传媒�

Mooring said she wanted to hear more about in-school vaccination clinics for students aged 12 and up, she also said she wanted to see a province-wide rapid testing strategy for students, including students without symptoms.

When asked about a vaccine mandate for B.C. teachers, Mooring said the BCTF is open to the idea, so long as the privacy of teachers is protected and there are measures in place to accommodate medical exemptions. At this time, there is no vaccine mandate for teachers or school staff.

B.C. School COVID Tracker, an independent group of parents that tracks school exposures and broadcasts them across social media, has tallied 700 exposures affecting 323 schools so far this year.

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cole.schisler@bpdigital.ca
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