Masks no longer required in Nova Scotia public schools next week
Starting next week, students and staff will no longer be required to wear masks in Nova Scotia public schools.
The Nova Scotia government announced Thursday that the mask mandate will be removed in public schools on Tuesday.
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Becky Druhan said, while not required, masks are still recommended, and anyone who chooses to wear a mask in school will be supported.
"Throughout the pandemic, we've worked closely with public health and taken steps to keep staff and students safe," said Druhan in a news release.
"We strongly encourage students and staff to continue to wear masks, and we will continue to support staff and students as well as continue to supply masks and hand sanitizer."
Druhan said the mask mandate has helped public schools mitigate the impact of the sixth wave of COVID-19, but as the weather warms up, it’s time to make masks optional.
She noted that some classes can be held outside and the province’s COVID-19 data and school attendance are both improving.
Druhan also pointed out that all other Canadian provinces have removed mask mandates in schools.
She said students, staff and visitors to schools should continue to stay home if they’re not feeling well, get vaccinated if eligible, and wash and sanitize often.
Nova Scotia lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates in most public places, on March 21. However, the province chose to keep the mask mandate in public schools, and extended the mandate in April.
MIXED FEELINGS ON MASKS
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union says teachers and other school staff members have mixed feelings about Thursday's announcement.
"While many are looking forward to a return to normalcy, many also remain extremely concerned about the safety of vulnerable students, colleagues, family members, and themselves," said the NSTU in a statement to CTV News.
"From an NSTU perspective, Omicron continues to be a major pressure in schools when it comes to staffing. Substitutes remain very difficult to find and NSTU members continue to consistently go without prep time to cover for unfilled absences by staff daily."
The NSTU says it is concerned that dropping the mask mandate in schools will only exacerbate these issues.
In its weekly COVID-19 report on Thursday, the province announced 24 more deaths related to COVID-19, which is six more than the number of deaths reported last week. The number of new cases and hospitalizations has dropped, however. Nova Scotia reported 59 new hospitalizations and 2,513 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.