Quebec makes masks mandatory in common areas of schools
‘I think the higher risk is not to reopen our schools’ education minister says
MONTREAL — Quebec’s updated back-to-school plan requires students in Grade 5 and up to wear masks in all common areas of school buildings, but not in the classroom.
Education Minister JeanFrancois Roberge said Monday the government’s new strategy does away with the six-student bubble concept it had announced in June and instead focuses on making communication between teachers and students as easy as possible.
“We want to preserve the ease of communication, face-to-face contact, facial expressions — these are important,” Roberge told a news conference in Montreal. He added that health and education experts advised his office against making masks mandatory inside classrooms.
Roberge said each classroom will be its own bubble, and students will not be required to maintain a two-metre distance with their classmates.
There will be limited mixing between classes and in the event of an outbreak, parents will be advised and the affected classroom bubble will be sent home to continue studies remotely.
In Ontario, the government has made mask-wearing mandatory in the classroom for students in Grades 4 through 12, but Quebec’s public health director said children would likely have a hard time following that rule.
“For kids ... we (will) organize schools in a different way with classes that are going to be closed — not mixing with others too much,” said Dr. Horacio Arruda on Monday. “Wearing a mask is difficult for an adult, so imagine for kids.”
And while all elementary and high school students will be expected to return to school at the end of the month, children who have a doctor’s note to suggest they’re at high risk of COVID-19 complications or who live with someone at risk, will be granted an exemption and offered a remote learning service.
In order to protect children from harm, Roberge said, schools need to fully reopen in order to offer students the ability to socialize and learn.
“Not opening the school is putting our kids at risk, we have some trouble with mental health, with learning disability,” Roberge said. “So I think the higher risk is not to reopen our schools.”
Stakeholders in the education sector reacted positively to the revised plan on Monday, welcoming the elimination of the six-student bubbles as well as the implementation of mandatory mask-wearing within common areas in schools.
“Wearing a compulsory face covering will facilitate movement within the establishment,” said Carl Ouellet, head of a Quebec association representing school management staff. “This is consistent with the other measures that apply in society.”