By Chris Brown

Recommendation from Hinshaw

Mandatory masks for staff, some students at school

Aug 4, 2020 | 9:15 AM

The Alberta government has made masks mandatory for staff and some students when school returns this fall.

Students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear masks when classes begin for the 2020-21 school year. Mask use for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will be optional due to difficulties expected with proper fit and compliance.

“After continuing to work with Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s team and Alberta Health, emerging evidence has made it clear that masks can play an important role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our schools,” said Education Minister Adriana LaGrange on Tuesday.

She added staff will be required to wear masks in all settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained and students will be required to wear them in all shared and common areas such as hallways and on school buses.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw made clear that masks are not required, but are optional, inside the classroom when students are seated and proper physical distance can be maintained from teachers and other students.

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She later said options for arranging desks to ensure students are not face-to-face and to ensure they are as far away from each other as possible are under discussion.

The chief medical officer of health said today’s announcement is a result of a detailed review that was underway when the initial return to school plan was announced on July 21.

“After reviewing the literature, I believe that requiring masks in all staff and in all children Grades 4 and above is essential to limiting the spread within schools and protecting the health of everyone involved,” she said.

Grade 4 was chosen as the cut off because of evidence that shows children 10 or older are potentially more likely to transmit the virus and are more likely to wear the masks properly.

“We know that masks can be an effective addition to reducing COVID-19 transmission when used properly,” Hinshaw said. “That is why I continue to strongly recommend that all Albertans wear masks in indoor spaces where distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of age.”

Every Kindergarten to Grade 12 student will be provided with two reusable masks. Teachers, support staff, school staff and bus drivers will be also be provided with two masks.

The total will be more than 1.6 million reusable masks will be provided to 740,000 students and 90,000 staff across the province.

Extra single-use masks will also be available at students as replacements for lost masks.

Teachers, support staff, school staff and bus drivers will all get one reusable faceshield to be used at their discretion.

The government will provide hand sanitizer to school boards for stations at school and classroom entrances. The government will also provide two contactless thermometers to each school for their own discretionary use.

All supplies will be provided to school authorities before the start of the school year.

LaGrange also said her department is working with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services to explore expanding testing capacity and reducing turnaround time for teachers, school staff and students.

“Today’s announcement is a direct result of Alberta’s government continuing to listen to expert medical advice as well as our commitment to working with our education system,” said Lagrange.

She added the government will continue to work with school stores to ensure they have the support they need for a safe and successful return to school and that guidelines for school re-entry will continue to evolve as more medical information and advice becomes known.