Hamilton public school board shortens masking mandate to April 1
CBC
Hamilton's public school board will continue to enforce masking for all students and staff until April 1 — 14 days earlier than its previous plan, but still 11 days after Ontario will have lifted its mask mandate.
The mandate could also end earlier if Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) receives a written directive or policy from Ontario's Ministry of Education that nullifies their mandate.
HWDSB trustees voted on the move Tuesday night during a special board meeting.
Chair Dawn Danko said staff will support anyone who claims they can't wear a mask due to medical exemptions and schools will also strongly recommend masking beyond April 1.
Trustees Maria Felix Miller and Paul Tut were opposed to the motion.
Miller said during the meeting that the new option was "watered down." She wrote on Twitter that she felt enforcing masking until April 15 "maximized safety for our families and staff."
"I am hopeful that masking until April 1 can help manage any March Break surges," she wrote. "However, I think 2.5 years of a pandemic have shown us that hopes and fatigue don't wash away cases."
On March 15, Danko wrote a letter to the city's medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, to issue an order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to allow mandatory masking until April 15. CBC Hamilton contacted public health for comment.
Danko also wrote a letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce raising concerns about the plan to lift many pandemic safeguards right after March Break.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford fired back at school boards like HWDSB, telling them to stick to the province's decision because "they aren't medical experts."
"Follow the direction of the chief medical officer, plain and simple," he said during a news conference Friday.
The province's move to end masking mandates in late March drew criticism and praise from health officials in the Hamilton area.
Danko told CBC Hamilton she hasn't heard back from Lecce or Richardson.
James Berry, a spokesperson for Hamilton public health, said it respects the school board's motion and trusts HWDSB will work with the province.
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