relief among parents and teachers as quebec calls for masks in class
"most parents were really stressed about their kids having to go back to school without any masks on."
aug 25 2021
3 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
by: t’cha dunlevy
better late than never. the quebec government’s announcement tuesday that masks will be mandatory for schoolchildren this fall was welcomed with open arms — and a few caveats — by parents, teachers and medical professionals.
“it’s good news,” said katherine korakakis, president of the english parents’ committee association, and mother of a 13-year-old and 10-year-old.
“most parents were really stressed about their kids having to go back to school without any masks on.”
masks must be worn throughout the building by elementary and high school students and teachers in many quebec regions, including montreal, when the school year resumes this week.
education minister jean-françois roberge blamed the rise of the covid-19 delta variant for having to go back on his original position that masks would not be necessary for students this fall.
“i think this does a lot to ease parents’ anxiety, with everyone hearing about the delta variant,” korakakis said.
she was also happy to hear roberge say classroom bubbles would not be reinstated this year, “because that really hurt children emotionally.”
korakakis did have one concern, however.
“what we’re still waiting on is information about what happens if a kid has a cold, runny nose or is coughing? what do we do with the kid? we still don’t have that information.
advertisement
advertisement
“currently, my child has a cold. what’s going on, monday? are they going to school? will they get tested? what’s happening?”
heidi yetman, president of the quebec provincial association of teachers, received the announcement enthusiastically, yet also had questions.
“we’re very happy to hear that masks are mandated inside the classroom,” yetman said. “that is something we were asking for, but there are a lot of things still up in the air. the part i would say is a negative, because it’s very unclear, is what happens when there’s an outbreak in a classroom or a student in a classroom gets covid? those protocols are still vague, so that’s worrisome.”
the government measures so far state that if an outbreak happens in regions where masks are mandatory, students who have been in contact with a case of covid-19 in a school setting will not have to stop classes temporarily.
dr. donald cuong vinh, an infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist at the mcgill university health centre, has four children ages 7 to 15.
“as a parent, i’ve been fighting for a while to advocate for masks in class,” vinh said. “as a physician, i’ve been working with schools to help develop protocols so we can have masks in place. to finally hear the government’s statement on masks made me sigh with relief. it’s a welcome change in policy.
advertisement
advertisement
“it’s fantastic news, and i think it was the right decision to make. the original decision (not to force masks in schools) was questionable, so i’m very glad that both the minister of education and the junior minister of education (isabelle charest) realized the data suggests that the safest and most prudent thing to do is keep masks in schools at the start of the school season.”
the quebec english school boards association is “generally satisfied” with the mask mandate, according to executive director russell copeman, who says the measure was one of seven recommendations the qesba sent to the government.
but copeman, too, believes it’s urgent for schools to receive detailed guidelines regarding what happens with positive cases.
“schools need those guidelines in writing asap,” he said. “classes start next week. we’re hoping it will be very clear, there won’t be any ambiguity, and teachers and principals will know what to do if there are cases in their classrooms.”
all our coronavirus-related news can always be found at montrealgazette.com/tag/coronavirus.
sign up for our email newsletter dedicated to local covid-19 coverage at montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews.
advertisement
advertisement
help support our local journalism by subscribing to the montreal gazette here.
share story
