Lifting mask mandate in Ontario schools 'premature,' puts in-person learning at risk, education union says

The Ontario government's decision to lift its mask mandate in school is "premature" and will put students at risk of having in-person learning once again disrupted, according to one of the largest education unions in the country. 

The statement from the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario comes as the province announced it will lift the mask mandate in schools on March 21. Other measures in schools will also be lifted on that date, including removing cohorting and daily on-site screening, as well as masking on student transportation.

"Unfortunately, it appears that a fast-approaching June election is influencing politicians' decisions to lift COVID-19 safety measures," ETFO president Karen Brown said in the statement.

"Lifting the mask mandate too soon may result in further disruption to in-person learning and negative impacts on the health and safety of ETFO members, students, and their families. Ontarians deserve stability and safety, not more chaos." 

The move comes as Ontario sees approximately 10 times the number of COVID-19 cases as is being captured through limited PCR testing.

The province recorded 1,947 new cases Wednesday, putting the actual number closer to 19,000. It also reported 27 new deaths.

That's as the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron is set to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 across the province. Officials have said BA.2 is 30 per cent more transmissible than BA.1.

Speaking to CBC Radio's Metro Morning ahead of the announcement, the head of Ontario's Science Table Dr. Peter Juni said it would take at least two more weeks to assess whether it's safe to move into the next stage of reopening. Rather than dropping masking, he said the focus should be on encouraging third doses for children who haven't yet taken it.

Juni also cited the example of Switzerland, which dropped most masking rules in February and has since seen a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases.

Asked if Ontario's decision to remove masking was a political one or a scientific one, Juni replied: "Well, it's not supported by science right now because it's just too early."

At a news conference announcing the decision Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore defended the move.

Moore said his decisions and recommendations to government are based on science and "have not been affected by any understanding of the political system."

Children, students and staff should still self-screen before attending school or child care and stay home if they are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, he said. The government will also continue to provide free masks for staff and students who choose to wear them, he said, and shipments of rapid tests to schools for symptomatic testing.

Asked why the government wouldn't extend the mandate in elementary schools, Moore responded, "It's now a choice."