Masks will be optional when students go back to school in September

Students returning to Saskatchewan schools in September can choose whether or not to wear masks, according to new guidelines released by the province on Thursday.

The eight pages of guidelines mostly contain suggestions to ensure students and staff clean their hands, practise physical distancing and avoid physical contact.

That leaves the decisions on how to follow these guidelines with the school divisions. Classes are set to start as early as Sept. 1, depending on the division.

“(The guidelines) certainly aren’t carved in stone,” deputy premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said at Thursday’s daily pandemic briefing. “We want to be as flexible as possible to make sure that we’re providing the best education opportunities for our kids within the parameters of the guidelines that are in place.”

The province announced last week that schools will reopen in the fall.

The guidelines say schools should ensure general-use hand sanitizer is available, but that staff and students should have their own Health Canada-approved hand sanitizer.

An exception for masks and protective eyewear is included when in contact with a sick student, although students and staff exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are advised to stay home.

For younger children, the guidelines say, “maintaining physical distance is less practical and the focus should be on minimizing physical contact instead.”

Schools are advised to stagger recess, lunch and class transition times to limit physical contact, as well as to reconfigure classrooms and other areas to add more space between students and staff.

A plan is suggested to prevent students from gathering in washrooms and a “school-wide” strategy for cleaning and disinfecting is advised.

The province’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said the risk at schools has proven to be low and a school would not necessarily need to close even if two or three students became sick.

Shahab noted there have been no problems with child care facilities, some of which have remained open throughout the pandemic.

“We haven’t had issues in day cares, so I think that really supports that we can start school safely,” he told reporters.

Games that teach younger children the principle of physical distance are encouraged in the guidelines. Hugs and handshakes are discouraged.

“Encourage physically distant greetings such as ‘air fives’ and waves,” the guidelines say.

Temperature checks, screening and testing for COVID-19 are not recommended.

Wyant suggested a $200-million contingency in this week’s provincial budget could be used to help school divisions implement the safety rules.

Parents and guardians are advised to drive children to school when possible, but those arriving by bus should be assigned seats to aid contact tracing in the event of a confirmed case of COVID -19.

Parents and guardians are discouraged from entering the school and parent-teacher meetings are supposed to be conducted by phone or video when possible.

Rules for extracurricular activities will be announced later.