At present, face masks are mandatory only for students in grades 4-12. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is calling on the province to ‘restore teacher and public confidence in school safety’ by mandating face masks for all students in the K-12 public school system.
Face masks are mandatory for students in grades 4-12. MTS wants that requirement extended to students in kindergarten to Grade 3 as well, stating physical distancing is not always possible in that age group.
According to the province’s chief public health officer, the risk of transmission in schools is low. The teachers’ society says, however, that more than a quarter of public health investigations into COVID-19 positive cases involving children in November remain outstanding.
Extending the mask mandate to children in kindergarten to Grade 3 will provide added protection to students and teachers and help in stopping community transmission.
Public school students in every grade level are already required to wear face masks while riding the school bus, and everyone in Manitoba is required to wear a mask in indoor public places under restrictions at the red, or critical level currently in place.
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Learn more about face masks and how to stay safe by enrolling in a mask fitting test which is a requirement for many workspaces and schools or the available masks for sale by visiting our face mask sale page.
Our courses maintain social distancing measures with reduced class sizes to maintain the minimum 2 meters apart along with the mandatory use of face masks and regular temperature checks. The venue of the courses undergo regular, enhanced cleaning and disinfection routines.
For more information about face masks, check out these sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html