Removing face masks from Ontario schools premature, teachers say


The end of mask wearing in Ontario schools is fast approaching, but concerns persist among school principals and teachers who believe that these changes are too rapid and that more caution should be exercised.

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The end of mask wearing in Ontario schools is fast approaching, but concerns persist among school principals and teachers who believe that these changes are too rapid and that more caution should be exercised.

Ontario’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced earlier this week the removal of the mask requirement in schools after spring break. However, many stakeholders from various school boards are asking the government to wait before removing various health measures.

Remember that other provinces such as Alberta and Quebec have already removed the wearing of masks in schools. Like Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia preferred to wait for the return of the spring break to make this relief effective.

Thus, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the largest school board in the country, voted to send a letter to Dr. Moore asking for the maintenance of the wearing of the mask and other sanitary measures. in schools.

For the president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Karen Brown, the withdrawal of sanitary measures in schools is premature and could cause outbreaks of COVID-19. “All of a sudden, [le gouvernement] puts students and staff at increased risk,” she told the Globe and Mail, noting that only 30% of children are fully vaccinated against the virus.

According to TDSB administrator Rachel Chernos Lin, a more gradual withdrawal of sanitary measures would make it easier for schools to reopen when they return from March break. “I believe the world thinks it’s going to go from 0 to 60 [cas] in one night. To relax everything at the same time is quite stressful for many families and employees,” she explained.

While in previous waves, school boards had the power to impose their more restrictive measures in their establishments, the Ontario government is now asking to respect the announced reductions to the letter.

“Let me be clear, school boards are not the medical experts. The director of public health is the expert,” said the premier of the province, Doug Ford, specifying that the Dr Moore had spoken with local health officials before deciding to lift the measures.




Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com

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