Rethink decision to remove masks in schools, watchdog tells N.B. government

New Brunswick Public Health should revisit its decision to remove masking requirements in schools with clear evidence of the factors to be weighed and a plan to monitor student safety and staff absenteeism, the child and youth advocate recommends in a report released Friday.

And the Department of Education should require that school districts meet their legal obligations to accommodate students adversely affected by the relaxing of COVID-19 rules, said Kelly Lamrock.

In a scathing 23-page report. Lamrock makes a total of eight recommendations "aimed at improving the safety and quality" of the school environment for children.

He says there was "blurred responsibility" for the decision, an "overreliance" on following other provinces, and a  "mismatch" between the public advice that vaccines are more effective than masks and the "factual evidence" that fewer than half of children attending schools are vaccinated."

COVID-19 measures in schools, such as mandatory masking, were removed on March 14, the day students and teachers returned to classes after March break. All provincial COVID-19 restrictions were lifted the same day, with the end of the emergency order.

Lamrock launched an inquiry into the government's decision to remove certain COVID measures in schools in late March.

He filed his report Friday morning with the legislative assembly.

Other recommendations include:

The government is not required to implement the recommendations.

Earlier this week, when asked about Lamrock's review, Premier Blaine Higgs said the government would continue to follow Public Health's advice, as it has throughout the pandemic.

"While masking does provide a layer of protection and Public Health supports their use, there is not evidence at this time that it needs to be made mandatory where people would be fined or unable to attend school for not wearing one," Higgs said in an emailed statement.

"Learning to live with COVID-19 means empowering ourselves and each other to protect one another against infection."

At least 40 of 54 active pediatricians in the province have called for the reinstatement of mandatory universal masking in schools for the rest of the academic year.

Moncton Centre Liberal MLA Robert McKee has also called on the government to reimpose mandatory masking for students and staff until at least the end of April, based on staffing challenges at schools around his riding and a petition signed by 1,400 people.