Prince George's District Teachers' Association (PGDTA) says it's pleased with a new requirement of students required to wear masks at school, but also expressed some frustration.
School districts, teachers and other education sectors had been calling on the B.C. government and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to enforce stronger COVID-19 protocols including students and staff wearing masks for everyone's safety.
On Monday (March 29), Henry announced new restrictions, what she called a 'circuit breaker' now in effect until April 19, as caseloads continue to climb and records being shattered.
Included in the new orders and restrictions is public health guidance for schools to support and encourage students down to Grade Four to wear masks.
Students in Kindergarten to Grade Three are not required to wear masks, but are encouraged to do so.
"We are pleased that the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education agree with the BCTF stance that masks should be mandatory in grades 4-12," PGDTA President Joanne Hapke tells PrinceGeorgeMatters.
"Masks are the simplest layer of protection that should have been mandated in September as it is obvious that physical distancing will not be occurring in any classroom that is at full capacity."
Here is the statement that was attached to the email sent. #bcpoli #bced #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #cityofpg @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/Lc9tzlx8jh
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) March 31, 2021
After the announcement, there was mass confusion whether it was an order or just guidance, which led to the B.C. Ministry of Education to issue a second statement Tuesday night (March 30) confirming that it was required, despite Dr. Henry saying in an interview earlier that day that it wasn't an order.
"First and foremost, we are focused on the safety of students and education workers and we will continue to follow public health advice to keep schools safe and open," the statement read.
"Schools reflect what’s happening in local communities and we support public health’s decision to introduce additional mask measures to our K-12 guidelines across the province."
The ministry also said K-12 staff and all students in Grades Four to 12 are now required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including when they are at their work stations (desks), and on school buses - both within and outside of their learning group.
Exceptions include:
- A person who is unable to wear a mask because they do not tolerate it (for health or behavioural reasons);
- A person unable to put on or remove a mask without the assistance of another person;
- If the mask is removed temporarily for the purposes of identifying the person wearing it;
- If the mask is removed temporarily to engage in an educational activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask (e.g. actively playing a wind instrument, high-intensity physical activity, etc.);
- If a person is eating or drinking;
- If a person is behind a barrier;
- While providing a service to a person with a disability or diverse ability (including but not limited to a hearing impairment), where visual cues, facial expressions and/or lip reading/movements are important.
An up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure, and listed with a self-monitoring period, is as follows:
- Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - March 16-17, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 31, 2021
- Heather Park Elementary - March 17-19, 2021
- Self-monitoring periods ends April 2, 2021
- D.P. Todd Secondary (SD57) - March 18-19, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends April 2, 2021
- Telkwa Elementary (SD54) - March 1-5, 8-11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Muheim Memorial Elementary (SD54) - March 1-5, 8-1, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Walnut Park Elementary (SD54) - March 1-5, 8-11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Smithers Secondary (SD54) - March 1-5, 8-11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Moberly Lake Elementary (SD59) - March 8-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Conrad Elementary School (SD52) - March 11-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- St. Joseph's School (Independent) - March 1-5, 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Spruceland Traditional Elementary (SD57) - March 12, 15-19, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends April 2, 2021
- St. Joseph's School - Smithers (Independent) - March 1-5, 8-11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Valemount Secondary (SD57) - March 12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Conrad Elementary School (SD82) - March 8-9, 11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- DP Todd Secondary (SD57) - March 12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 11-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Notre Dame School (SD59) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 24, 2021
- College Heights Secondary (SD57) - March 15-17, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 31, 2021
- Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - March 10, 11-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Notre Dame School (SD59) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
- Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Pacific Coast School (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring ends March 26, 2021
- Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 5, 8-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring periods ends March 26, 2021
- William Konkin Elementary (SD91) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Mount Elizabeth Secondary (SD82) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Hazelton Secondary (SD82) - March 11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School (SD52) - March 9-11, 2021
- Sel-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Charles Hays Secondary - March 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
- Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
- Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 11, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
- Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
- Valemount Elementary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
- College Heights Secondary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
- Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
- Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
- Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - March 8-10, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 24, 2021
- Conrad Elementary (SD52) - March 8-9, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
- Skeena Middle (SD82) - March 1-5, 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring periods ends March 22, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace campus (SD59) - March 5, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 19, 2021
- Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 8, 2021
- Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
Northern Health's school-exposure section explains the following:
- Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
- We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
- Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
- Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
- Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community
Meanwhile, the 'circuit breaker' also mandates indoor dining to be paused until April 19 at all food and liquor-serving restaurants, but outdoor patio dining, take-out and delivery services are allowed.
Dr. Henry added a halt on indoor adult group fitness activities. However, individual or one-on-one activities may still take place.
Indoor worship services have also been suspended days after class variance was given to allow up to 50 people at a time.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
