Mask mandates end in all Atlantic Canadian schools, but health officials still recommend their use
For the first time in a long time, students, teachers and staff in all four Atlantic provinces are no longer required to wear a mask while in public schools.
Mask mandates were lifted in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday. New Brunswick ended its masking requirement in public schools on March 14, following March break.
While some say they're pleased the COVID-19 measure has been lifted, others wish it had remained in place until the end of the school year.
"It feels like we could have kept it on until the end of the school year," one parent told CTV News. "We’re so close that it feels a bit disappointing to have it lifted at this point, so our kids are definitely going to be keeping them on until the end of the school year."
“We’re comfortable with our son going without a mask. We’ve talked about distance and washing hands,” said another parent.
In March, a group of doctors at Halifax's IWK Health Centre successfully lobbied Nova Scotia to keep masking mandatory in public schools when the province previously planned to drop it.
Though that didn't happen this time, doctors are still encouraging students and staff to keep their masks on.
In a tweet Monday, Dr. Andrew Lynk, the pediatrics chair at the IWK Health Centre, said Nova Scotia's health-care system is still strained.
"There are tons of COVID infections around. NS Pediatricians strongly recommend we continue masking till school ends in 4 weeks. Protect yourselves, your classmates & teachers, your parents & family," wrote Lynk on Twitter.
Lynk told CTV News staffing issues are also still a problem.
"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," he said.
The president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union told CTV News Monday the membership is split on the issue.
"I think there's concerns with four or five weeks left in the school year, are we headed for a spot where potentially some schools are going to have to close because we're going to see an uptick in cases?" asked Wozney. "We simply can't deal with that extra pressure."
He also raised 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," said Wozney Monday.
Health officials in all four Atlantic provinces still strongly recommend masking in public spaces, although it's not mandatory.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.