Kids in B.C. go back to school without masks, parent advocate worries

On Monday, kids and teachers in B.C. will be returning to school without the mask mandate after Spring Break, although many may still choose to wear a mask.

The mask mandate for public spaces in the province was lifted on March 11, but the rules for the classroom were extended to March 28, when the majority of schools reopen after a two week break.

Dr. Brian Conway, medical director with the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, points out that each person’s situation is different.

“Respect those who choose to continue to wear masks, respect those who choose to personally distance, and let’s move forward together,” Conway said, adding those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated are at a higher risk. “They should potentially choose to wear a mask and this is where I think we will have to accommodate individuals who still choose to be more cautious in the current environment.”

“I am hearing here in Whistler, at Vancouver Canucks games, on the streets in Vancouver, ‘thank god COVID is gone.’ It’s not gone. I think we really need to remind ourselves of that and behave in a way that is responsible but allows us to return as close to normal as we can including going back to school without masks.”

Conway is cautiously optimistic the lifting of mask rules is a good thing, but says kids must stay home when sick “and if a teacher sees anyone showing up at school when they are sick they should send them home, I think that’s something we will have to pay attention to going forward.”

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• Mask mandate end can be a tough shift for kids with autism

Back from a sunny vacation? Mask rules still apply

While the provincial rules on masks are now fully lifted, those returning from out-of-country still need to wear a mask for 14 days after arrival in all public spaces, including children in schools and daycares.

That’s according to the federal government’s travel rules, which also require a list of all close contacts and locations be kept following an international trip.

Additionally, for two weeks after entry into Canada they must monitor for symptoms and, if any occur, report them to the Public Health Agency of Canada. They will then be required to quarantine.

“If you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, your unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children are exempt from quarantine, without any limitations on their activities. This means, for example, they don’t need to wait 14 days before attending school, camp or daycare,” the Government of Canada’s website reads.

Calls for mask rules to return

Rani Senghera with the Surrey Parent Advisory Council says with new variants and the unforeseeable future of COVID-19, many parents are proponents of keeping the mask mandate in effect.

“We know that different families have different thresholds for safety or what’s acceptable in their household at this time. I know most teachers are recommending kids to still wear masks and some teachers will be keeping their masks on,” Senghera said.

Henry says masks are a personal decision and can be made based on high-risk settings and other factors.

“We need to recognize that we all have our own risks and our own vulnerabilities and particularly if you are older, if you’re immune-compromised, you may still wear a mask in some locations, especially if you’re inside or around a large number of people that you don’t know. If you’ve not yet had your booster or your children are not yet vaccinated, then masks continue to be a very important protective layer that you may want to continue to use especially in larger crowds and indoors,” Henry said.

Although some may choose to continue wearing masks, Senghera says the shift will still cause a lot of anxiety among students, teachers, and parents.

“There’s a lot of anxiety still among kids, There’s a lot of mixed messages we’ve been trying to tell them you have to wear a mask and now it’s like, you don’t have to and so I think there’s still a lot of mental health issues that are gonna happen with this. And that’s a totally different story,” Senghera suggested.

Senghera notes most Canadian universities are sticking with the mask mandate and believes elementary and secondary schools should follow suit.

“I think that some parents do feel that masks should have never been taken away from schools. I think that both sides need to understand but at the end of the day, if you can give your kids that extra protection, why not?”

Majority of young kids in B.C. not fully vaccinated: Data

Vaccination rates among children aged five to 11 in B.C. remain low for first and second doses. The rates are among the lowest in the country,  and are below the national average.

“It’s a huge concern, especially since we now know the endemic is being driven by the new COVID Omicron BA.2 subvariant that is more contagious and does require not two but three shots for individuals to be optimally protected. We need to remember it’s still COVID and vaccines are our first line of defence,” Conway said.

By community, Vancouver has the highest immunization rate for younger children at 80 per cent for first doses and 59 per cent for second doses.

By comparison, in Hope, which is among the worst in the province, 30 per cent of children aged five to 11 have had one dose, while 14 per cent have had two.

While overall rates are low, children in the older cohort, show a different story. Across the country, 85 per cent have had two doses and B.C.’s rates are on par with the national average.

– With files from Michael Williams and Azzaya Khan