Sudbury students 'strongly' recommended to continue masking, local health unit says

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is "strongly" recommending that students, staff, teachers, volunteers and visitors continue to wear masks in schools even though it is no longer mandatory.

In March, the Ontario government lifted mask mandates in most indoor settings, including schools.

At that time, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said masking was "now a choice."

"Very few children have had to be admitted as a cause for COVID and/or into the intensive-care unit," he told CBC in March.

But last week, the health unit in Sudbury sent a letter to students and educators, encouraging them to wear masks in schools.

"The pandemic is not really over and we're concerned about the spread," said Natalie Phillipe, a public health nurse with the health unit.

"The best form of protection with COVID-19 is really applying layers of protection, and seeking vaccination and masks have proven to really be effective."

She said the messaging the health unit is putting out is to strongly recommend mask wearing in schools.

"We would like to see the government of Ontario reinstate these guidelines as well," she said. 

"But at this time, it's just a strong recommendation."

According to provincial data, student absenteeism in Sudbury schools ranges between zero and 50 per cent.

'Not shocked'

The letter isn't a surprise to at least one teachers' union.

Liana Holm, president of ETFO Rainbow Teacher Local, said her union has been calling for masking to stay in place in schools.

"We came right out as soon as we heard about the fact that the masks were going to not be mandatory anymore from the province," she said.

"Doing it right after March break [it was] very, very likely that the numbers were going to spike, which is what we saw here. So I'm not shocked at all that the health unit is asking us here to keep our masks on."

Holm said she has had "split reaction" on the issue from teachers she represents.

"We have some members who feel that the masks don't do us any good," she said. 

"And we have members who also feel that kids are simply wearing masks in school because they don't want to get sick or they care for people who are immunocompromised. And they're very, very, very worried."

Holm said there are issues finding occasional teachers to fill in for permanent staff who are sick or isolating. She said when a supply teacher can't be found, those students are moved into another classroom.

"That puts extra stress on an already stressed system, an already stressed workforce of teachers who are now having to deal with five, six, seven, ten kids that aren't usually in their class that day," she said.

"And then the anxiety goes up."

Holm said her union continues to push for students to wear masks until the end of the school year.