A B.C. mother is frustrated that elementary school students havenB次元官网网址檛 been mandated B次元官网网址� or at least strongly encouraged B次元官网网址� to wear masks to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashley, who asked that her last name not be used, is taking two weeks off from her job in the health care system because her son is required to self-isolate after an exposure at his Cowichan Valley school last week. Being away from work isnB次元官网网址檛 her main worry, but she feels bad missing time during a health emergency
B次元官网网址淭here is a big need for health care workers at this time,B次元官网网址� she pointed out. B次元官网网址淎nd now IB次元官网网址檓 having to lose time from my job.B次元官网网址�
She sends her own son to school wearing a mask, and wishes that more parents would do the same if the provincial government wonB次元官网网址檛 make it mandatory. She said she has talked to parents at other schools who feel the same way.
B次元官网网址淧revention is what weB次元官网网址檙e taught in healthcare,B次元官网网址� Ashley pointed out. B次元官网网址淒o we want to wait until we end up like Fraser Health?B次元官网网址�
Fraser Health has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the province.
Middle and secondary school students are currently required by the provincial government to wear masks when not at their desks, but that does not apply in elementary schools.
B次元官网网址淲e do encourage a culture of mask wearing in all our schools and support families in any decision they wish to make around mask wearing,B次元官网网址� explained Mike Russell, spokesperson for the Cowichan Valley School District. B次元官网网址淢asks are one added layer of protection that supplement other proven measures like hand washing and physical distancing.B次元官网网址�
Russell added that neither the school district nor individual schools can add to or override the provincial guidelines. Children under the age of 12 are not provincially mandated to wear masks.
Ashley, who has been urging people to contact the offices of Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry about mandating masks for younger students, feels kids are getting mixed messages about mask-wearing.
B次元官网网址淲hen a child goes to the store, they have to wear a mask, but when theyB次元官网网址檙e going to school they donB次元官网网址檛 have to wear one?B次元官网网址� she questioned. B次元官网网址淚 understand they are following a protocol, but we all know what the right thing is to do.B次元官网网址�
There is a lack of understanding, Ashley said, about why people are asked to wear masks, and some people have been led to believe that children canB次元官网网址檛 get sick from COVID-19, which is not true.
B次元官网网址淧eople donB次元官网网址檛 understand they can also be carriers,B次元官网网址� she added.
She is also concerned that people on Vancouver Island have been complacent because the region has been spared from the numbers experienced in the Lower Mainland and other parts of the province, and because there havenB次元官网网址檛 been as many exposures in elementary schools.
B次元官网网址淚 hope people will take this seriously and change their ways,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淧revention is key. People should be doing everything possible to minimize this. I get that kids need to go to school, but we also need to keep the exposures down.B次元官网网址�
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