Ford open to idea of face coverings for all students
U.S. pediatric agency’s call for mandatory masks could affect policy here
Children can safely wear masks starting at age two — and face coverings should be mandatory in schools to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, says the American Academy of Pediatrics in new guidance that could affect schools here.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for the safe return of children to school, child care and other group settings must include the universal use of cloth face coverings by children two years of age and older and the adults with whom they interact,” says the new statement from the prestigious academy, issued Thursday.
It comes as teacher unions across Ontario continue to push for changes so that all students — not just those from Grades 4 to 12 — wear masks when they return to class this fall.
The province has urged younger children, from junior kindergarten to Grade 3, to wear masks.
Asked about the issue on Thursday, Premier Doug Ford said the province is taking the advice of experts at Sick Kids hospital, but he’s “open to any suggestion.”
He said one idea that has been run by pediatric experts is that
“maybe (for) the youngest ones, maybe it’s easier if they wear face shields. I know we only have a few weeks left, but I just want to get advice from the (COVID) health table about the face shields for the younger ones.”
Ford noted that Sick Kids warned that younger students “would be wiggling around with the face masks all the time, it’s hard for those young kids to be wearing those masks. But again we’re just taking the advice off the health team about that. But I’d be open to any suggestion, if they give me the direction to do that.”
Ontario is the only jurisdiction to require masks all day when school returns, though a handful of other provinces have said teens need to wear them in the hallways, or on buses.
A report released by Sick Kids and other children’s medical experts across the province said younger children might have difficulty putting or keeping masks on, or be more likely to spread germs if they continually touch their faces and adjust masks.
The academy also said masks “can be safely worn by all children age 2 years and older, including the vast majority of children with underlying health conditions, with rare exception.”
Liz Stuart, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, has told the Star that children have to wear masks when they go to the mall, and schools should be no different.
“Kids can learn routines, that’s what we do in schools — we teach kids routines. I believe that younger children absolutely can wear masks, I don’t understand why we aren’t pushing it here,” she said.
Academy president Dr. Sally Goza said in a statement that “children are incredibly adaptable and resilient. Just like children understand that they must wear bicycle helmets and buckle into their car seats, they will come to learn to wear masks routinely when necessary.”
Goza said “this virus is going to be with us for some time, and face coverings are a proven, effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As parents prepare to send their children to school and into child care settings, cloth face coverings should be part of their new normal.” The academy represents 67,000 pediatricians and pediatric experts in the United States.