Elementary school students in red zones will be required to wear a surgical mask at all times when classes resume after March break, according to the latest directives from Quebec’s public health authority.
In a press release, the health ministry explained the new measure was brought on due to the emerging threat of COVID-19 variants. Starting on March 8, students in grades 1 through 6 will have to wear a mask in the classroom, in the hallways and on the school bus.
The government is in the process of delivering masks to school service centres and private institutions. Visors are mandatory for some schools in red zone regions until they have received the appropriate amount of government-regulated masks.
In orange zones, masks are still mandatory at all times for grades 5 and 6, except when students are outside. Students in grades 1 to 4 are required to wear a mask in common areas, hallways and on the school bus, but it is not mandatory in classrooms.
The latest data on the evolution of COVID-19 in Quebec shows 858 new cases for a total of 285,330. There are 16 new deaths, which brings the total to 10,361— five deaths in the last 24 hours. There are also 633 hospitalizations and 122 people in intensive care.
There were 8,300 doses of vaccine administered for a total of 387,076. Quebec has received a total of 509,325 doses of vaccine. In the Eastern Townships, the local health authority announced 36 new cases, bringing the total to 11,467. The region reported no new deaths.
The cases of new variants has risen in the last 24 hours from 23 to 34. The presumptive number of cases also increased from 602 to 772.
New mask rules after March break for elementary students in red zones
Record Staff
