Mask mandate drops in Nova Scotia public schools Tuesday
Mask mandate drops in Nova Scotia public schools Tuesday
When Nova Scotia students return to public schools on Tuesday, after the Victoria Day long weekend, wearing masks will be optional.
"I haven’t been to school since Grade 10 without masks and I am a senior," says Jenna Kedy, a Grade 12 student.
Kedy is fully vaccinated and is also immunosuppressed.
"It terrifies me, I’m very scared to get COVID and I have been since the beginning," she says.
Despite that, Kedy says she is ready for masks to come off.
"I think we’re coming to a consensus that I think we need to continue to live our lives even though there’s some devastating effects from that. I just think we need to kind of move on a little and live with it," says Kedy.
Halifax's IWK Health Centre successfully lobbied the province to keep the mandate when they previously planned to drop it.
Though it won't happen this time, the hospital is encouraging students and staff to keep their masks on.
"Our IWK emergency department and inpatient wards are experiencing extremely high volumes, and we still have staffing challenges because of COVID. Our group is concerned about the resulting impact on our pediatric health care system," says Dr. Andrew Lynk, pediatrics chair at the IWK Health Centre.
The president of the Nova Scotia Teacher's Union says the membership is split on the issue. Paul Wozney raises some concerns that the weakened system might break.
"We were already in the middle of a substitute teacher crisis before Omicron and that's just been made worse. So, I think we're worried. Masking, really, has been the only layer of real protection in schools since November and we’ve barely been able to keep the doors open on a day-to-day basis," says Wozney.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW | Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'turning point' in world history: defence chief
Canada's chief of defence says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is going to change the course of history.

Climate goals may be at odds with G7 response to fallout from Russian invasion
G7 leaders opened their summit Sunday with a discussion about shaping the global economy at a time when conflict and unrest are driving up prices and access to key goods around the world.
Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Hundreds of protesters descended on the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday to denounce the justice's decision to overturn the half-century-old Roe v. Wade precedent that recognized women's constitutional right to abortion.
NEW | Rate of extreme rainfall expected to increase dramatically by 2100
New research looking at the frequency of heavy rainfall across the globe shows that a drastic increase in downpours is expected over the years to come.
From closures to near-normal routines, students look back on COVID-warped school year
The final bell is about to ring at the end of a topsy-turvy school year warped by the COVID-19 crisis and students are reflecting on how the pandemic shaped things.
Live updates: G7 leaders poke fun at Putin's tough image
The latest on the G7 summit: Leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Germany have joked about what would make them look tougher than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Child labour remains an increasing source of Canada’s everyday products: NGO
Many Canadians remain unaware of the involvement of forced child labour in the products they buy, according to non-profit agency World Vision Canada.
Conservative MPs free to attend 'freedom' protests this summer: Bergen
With the nation's capital bracing for anticipated anti-mandate 'freedom' movement protests during Canada Day weekend, interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen says her MPs are free to attend.
'I landed in a safe haven': Uganda refugees celebrate LGBTQ2S+ community for first time
As Pride festivities kick off around the world, many refugees are celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community for the first time.