Toronto schools will require masks for all students

Thestar.com
August 20, 2020
Kristin Rushowy

Toronto’s public school board -- like its Catholic counterpart -- wants all students to wear masks when they return to classrooms this fall.

Going further than the provincial recommendation that students don masks starting in Grade 4, or at age 9, the Toronto boards support the move starting in kindergarten, or age 4.

The Waterloo Region public board has also passed a similar motion.

In Toronto, Trustee Michelle Aarts said in her motion that masks are mandated in the city of Toronto in indoor spaces, and that “research shows that young children do contract COVID-19 and carry high viral loads in their respiratory system, therefore indicating both the ability of young children to contract and spread COVID-19.”

Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended masks for children starting at age 2, and called face coverings crucial as students return to school amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Doug Ford said the province has taken the advice of experts at Sick Kids and other pediatric hospitals, who said younger children are not believed to be big transmitters of the virus, and they may have trouble putting or keeping them on, further risking infection.

Teacher unions across Ontario have been urging all students to be required to have face coverings.

Ford has said he is “open to any suggestion” and that the province has been discussing face shields for younger students.

Ontario has the most stringent mask rules of all of the provinces.

“Toronto Public Health data shows that communities across the city are differentially impacted by COVID-19 and suggests that our most vulnerable populations of students and families are at highest risk of continued and renewed outbreaks,” said Aarts’ motion, which passed at a special meeting Tuesday.

“It seems likely that these same communities have less flexibility to ‘opt-out’ of in-school learning to protect their families.”

Students with medical or other conditions can opt out.

Aarts, who represents Beaches-East York, also asked that the board ensure there is funding to provide masks to students who don’t have their own.