Surrey students, staff return to school from Spring Break to new mask order

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Students and teachers are used to feeling refreshed on the first day back after Spring Break — but there’s a very different situation evolving Monday.

COVID-19 case continue to rise, with some districts like Surrey now having stricter rules in place as a result.

Monday marks the first day of the new face covering order for Surrey schools. It means all K-12 staff and all students grades 4-12 have to wear a mask at all times, following that order from Fraser Health.

Exceptions to the order include:

• If someone is unable to wear a face covering because of a psychological, behavioural, or health condition, or because of a physical, cognitive, or intellectual impairment
• If an individual is unable to put or or take off a mask without help form another person
• While communicating with someone who has a hearing impairment
• When a person is actively eating or drinking
• Teachers may remove the face covering while providing direct instruction at a distance of more than two metres from others

Today we implement a new Order from @Fraserhealth on Face Coverings in Surrey Schools. The Order requires all staff K-12 and all students 4-12 to wear a mask at all times. We rely on the expertise of the PHO, Ministry, and Fraser Health. Thanks to all. #sd36learn pic.twitter.com/hZb83tudy8

— Jordan Tinney (@jordantinney) March 27, 2021

Given the big rise in cases, that’s prompting plenty of calls from teachers and parents in other districts to ask why similar moves aren’t being made elsewhere.

“I’m very curious why Surrey but not Burnaby, Coquitlam, delta (sic) and other fraser health (sic) schools,” asks one Twitter use.

Others wonder the same thing, with some wondering why the order doesn’t cover all districts under Fraser Health.

Why doesn’t the PHO implement this order for ALL school districts?!

— S u s a n (@suz2772) March 27, 2021

“The inconsistency will be causing anger from parents at other schools and the teachers and their school staff in other school districts,” Wendy writes on Twitter. “What is the problem with making masks mandatory in the schools?”

Yes. The inconsistency will be causing anger from parents at other schools and the teachers and their school staff in other school districts. What is the problem with making masks mandatory in the schools?

— Wendy (@perfectrose2011) March 27, 2021

The new mask mandate was announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile on Vancouver Island, the health authority there is frank about the situation, warning over the weekend that all signs indicate there will be significant exposures at schools in the weeks to come, as it notes the number of children with coronavirus is on the rise.

The other thing of note in the letter from @VanIslandHealth is specific reference to people having a lot of social contacts & a number of events while contagious. Contact tracers must be hopping
Health orders are household only inside. Outside 10 – same ten. #bcpoli #covid19 https://t.co/4YjYB9UwFG

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) March 29, 2021