New Brunswick's top doctor isn't considering mask mandate for schools, despite pressure

Despite pressure from the public, and fellow medical professionals, New Brunswick's top doctor says she’s still not considering mandating masks in the classroom.

Late last week, 19 pediatricians and neonatologists came forward, calling on the province to reinstate masks in schools.

On Tuesday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell said the rationale for not making that move stems, in part, from mental health and learning studies among children.

She said 17.9 per cent of students entering kindergarten have difficulties communicating, which can lead to difficulties achieving academic outcomes.

“This is very significant and again we know that mental health has been affected," said Russell.

She says the decision not to mandate masks in schools is a collaborative decision with the Department of Education.

Dr. Mark MacMillan, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, supports the reinstatement of a mask mandate in schools.

“A lot of those health-care workers are isolating because their children brought home COVID,” he said. “That’s not the child’s fault and that’s not the parent’s fault — it’s our current reality.”

He says Russell has “continuously stated” that New Brunswickers should be following all public health guidelines, including mask-wearing. He’s hoping people hear that message.

“So it is up to the individual New Brunswicker to work with us to help protect our health-care system and our children,” he said.

Some school districts believe COVID-19 has been impacting staffing and student absences, although cases are no longer being reported to schools.

“On the heels of March break, and with COVID-19 still pervasive in our system, we decided to extend support to schools until April 13,” said a spokesperson for the Anglophone West School District. “Currently, we have 84 supply teachers and 70 casual educational assistants (EAs) assigned to schools until Wednesday, April 13, inclusive.”

Districts are not identifying the cause of absences, so some could be for reasons other than COVID-19.

But here’s a look at what two are facing:

Anglophone West School District:

Number of sick absences requiring a substitute:

Feb. 24-28, 2020: 479

Feb. 28-March 4, 2022: 681

March 21-25, 2022: 794

For students (including appointments, vacation and sick days)

March 21-25, 2022:

K-5: 12 per cent

6-8: 14 per cent

9-12: 18 per cent

Anglophone South School District:

Average sick absences among teachers:

February of 2020: 86

Feb 28-March 4, 2022: 127

March 14-18, 2022: 129

March 21-25, 2022: 155

Students (including appointments, vacation, sick days)

In 2020:

K-5: 7 per cent

6-8: 12 per cent

9-12: 22 per cent

March 14-25, 2022:

K-5: 12 per cent

6-8: 18 per cent

9-12: 31 per cent

The superintendent of Anglophone South, Zoe Watson, says since January, the district has made use of substitutes to try and address higher-than-normal absences among staff.

“We have schools divided into clusters and hired supply teachers to work in these clusters each day through until at least Easter (when we will reassess the need),” said Watson.

“We are also using district-based teacher coaches and district subject coordinators to cover for absent teachers … we have some retired teachers who have been filling in, which helps us, and we continue to add supply teachers to our casual list.”