Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Zach Churchill have provided an update on the Return To School Plan for Nova Scotia.
They have announced that they’re changing their mask policy and they will now be mandatory for students from grades four and up while at school except when they’re sitting at their desk facing forward, or if the desks are not two metres apart.
“The decision to require masks for grades 4 and up in our schools is in line with recent evidence and guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s Chief Public Health Officer.
“Along with all the other public health measures, masks will help protect our school communities from COVID-19.”
Students will be provided two free masks upon return to school and masks will be provided if they come to school without.
“Our goal, first and foremost, is student and staff safety. We developed our plan to be flexible, to best support the return to school for children, students and staff,” said Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
“This change is in line with new federal recommendations around mask wearing and what we know about their effectiveness to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially when wearing masks.”