B.C. expands mask mandate in schools to include kindergarten to Grade 3 after community outcry

The mask mandate for schools in B.C. is being expanded to include staff and studentsin kindergarten to Grade 3 as of Monday, the provincehasannounced.

Officials said Friday the change is being made after reviewing case data gathered during the first month of the school year and listening to concerns raised by parents, teachers and students.

"I know many parents will welcome these additionalmeasures to keep our kids safe," Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said during a news conference.

Until Friday, the rule had only included staff and students in Grade 4 and up.

3 districts tightened mask rules

School trustees in the cities of Vancouver, Surrey and Burnabyall moved beyond provincial regulations earlier this week by tighteningmask mandates in their districts to require face coverings for all students, regardless of grade level, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

B.C.'s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry hadpreviously resisted calls from parents and teachers to make face coverings mandatory in kindergarten to Grade 3.

She previouslysaid masks are just one tool used tocontainCOVID-19, while good ventilation and limits on intermingling between classes are other keyways to curb thespread.

The B.C. Teachers Federation (BCTF)said Friday it was "grateful" to see the mandate expandedbut said the decision not to include younger students from thestart left school trustees in a difficult position.

"When things aren't mandated provincially, it's really hit and miss as to how it plays out in the field,"said Teri Mooring, president of the federation.

She said it was "extremely disappointing" that school boards inVancouver, Surrey and Burnaby had to make their own decisions.

"Those school boards that stepped up really did have an impact on this announcement today," she said.

Cases risingin elementary school-aged children

Data presented Tuesday showed a steady rise in COVID-19 diagnoses in school-aged children, especially in childrenaged 5 to 11, who aren't yet old enough to be eligible for vaccination.

Henry said the majorityof transmission continues to happen in homes and social settings, but those infections leadto cases in schools. Communities with the lowest vaccination rates are particularly hard hit, she said.

"We know that immunization protects communities and protects children," said Henry. "The best protection for kids in our schools is for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated."

As for vaccines for younger children, Pfizer has submitted research to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine in kids.Modernaalso is studying its shots in elementary school-agedchildren.

Henry said Friday she's hopeful a vaccine will be available for children under 12 before "the end of this calendar year and, hopefully, as early as the end of October."

Public health will release a new monthly report to show how the virus is infecting school-aged children, starting with the first edition in mid-October.

The BCTFsaid it was pleased to hear more data is being released.

"We have heard from both familiesand teachers about concerns they don't have enoughinformation about what's happening at their child's school in order to make informed decisions," said Mooring.

Members of a fourth Metro Vancouver school boardin New Westminster are meetinglater Friday to consider a recommendation to seek a legal opinion regarding mandatory vaccinations for school staff members.

Vaccines are not currently mandatory for staff working in B.C. schools.