Key takeaways:
- On Monday, all COVID-19 restrictions in New Brunswick were lifted, and students were no longer needed to wear masks in class.
- Masks are no longer required in physical education as well as music classes, but the province tells teachers are urged to hold outdoor classes if the weather permits.
Students in New Brunswick were no longer required to wear masks in class on Monday, after the province lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, signaling a major shift for schools after 2 years of pandemic protocols.
“It’s nice to see some students’ faces,” says Lori Wall, “it’s something that I hadn’t seen their faces for our grade nine as well as ten students because they came in throughout the pandemic when masks were mandatory.”
The end of the mandate elicited mixed reactions among Saint John students, with some applauding the change and others hesitant to abandon masking altogether.
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Sarah Bedell, a grade 11 student, says, “It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around.” “It was a few weeks ago, and we had to wear our masks… We used to have to go out into the hallway to drink water, and now we can do whatever we like, which I find strange.”
It’s a change for Matthew Ketch, a grade 10 student, and many others.
“It feels really weird to see people’s faces, especially walking through the halls,” Ketch says, “and I think it’s nice to have a change.”
“It’s nice – but at the same time, I don’t want it,” grade 11 student Madison King says, “because I don’t want the risk of COVID affecting the other students and teachers.”
Some students opt to remain masked, and Wall says he’s seen some staff members do the same.
“There are various reasons why they would keep them on,” Wall explains, “but we have those who are continuing to wear them and will continue – and we have those who are just really happy to say goodbye to the masks.”
Physical education and music classes are back to normal now that masks are no longer required, but the province says teachers are encouraged to hold outdoor classes if the weather permits.
In addition, no proof of vaccination is required to participate in any extracurricular activities.
Source: CTV News
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