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The London-area Catholic school board say it has ditched outdoor masking requirement for students after new provincial guidance and will watch closely to see if more restrictions are lifted.
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Vince Romeo, education director at the London District Catholic school board, said the decision was due in part to the fact outdoor transmission of COVID is much less common than indoor.
“With the provincial restrictions being lifted, we thought it was a perfect opportunity for us to give those students a break outdoors,” he said.
Physical distancing is still “encouraged,” and staff and student still must mask up indoors, he said.
“Right now, our staff are required to wear a medical-grade . . . (or) N95 mask (indors) and our students continue to receive the free three-ply masks,” he said.
Being out in the open air “significantly reduces the need for a mask,” said Alex Summer, Middlesex-London’s acting medical officer of health. “I’m less concerned about any policy that reduces mask use outside as long as indoor masking requirements remain in place.
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“We’ll reassess as the incidence of COVID-19 hopefully falls,” he added.
Ontario’s top doctor has said masking mandates may change after an expected mid-March review. next month. This will following the lifting of capacity limits and proof of vaccination requirements March 1, Kieran Moore said.
Thames Valley, the region’s biggest school board, said they have required masking outdoors if students can’t maintain two-metre distancing. “That is no longer required as per ministry direction,” a board email said.
Romeo said the Catholic board will watch new developments closely.
“We’re interested (to see) if there will be new guidance for indoor masking requirements, until then we will keep our current protocols in place,” he said.
They are also monitoring any “new expectations for status of vaccination” for students participating in sports or clubs.
With files from Dan Brown, The London Free Press
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/area-catholic-schools-drop-outdoor-mask-rules-to-give-students-a-break
