A B.C. mother is frustrated that elementary school students haven害羞草研究所檛 been mandated 害羞草研究所� or at least strongly encouraged 害羞草研究所� to wear masks to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ashley, who asked that her last name not be used, is taking two weeks off from her job in the health care system because her son is required to self-isolate after an exposure at his Cowichan Valley school last week. Being away from work isn害羞草研究所檛 her main worry, but she feels bad missing time during a health emergency

害羞草研究所淭here is a big need for health care workers at this time,害羞草研究所� she pointed out. 害羞草研究所淎nd now I害羞草研究所檓 having to lose time from my job.害羞草研究所�

She sends her own son to school wearing a mask, and wishes that more parents would do the same if the provincial government won害羞草研究所檛 make it mandatory. She said she has talked to parents at other schools who feel the same way.

害羞草研究所淧revention is what we害羞草研究所檙e taught in healthcare,害羞草研究所� Ashley pointed out. 害羞草研究所淒o we want to wait until we end up like Fraser Health?害羞草研究所�

Fraser Health has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the province.

Middle and secondary school students are currently required by the provincial government to wear masks when not at their desks, but that does not apply in elementary schools.

害羞草研究所淲e do encourage a culture of mask wearing in all our schools and support families in any decision they wish to make around mask wearing,害羞草研究所� explained Mike Russell, spokesperson for the Cowichan Valley School District. 害羞草研究所淢asks are one added layer of protection that supplement other proven measures like hand washing and physical distancing.害羞草研究所�

Russell added that neither the school district nor individual schools can add to or override the provincial guidelines. Children under the age of 12 are not provincially mandated to wear masks.

Ashley, who has been urging people to contact the offices of Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry about mandating masks for younger students, feels kids are getting mixed messages about mask-wearing.

害羞草研究所淲hen a child goes to the store, they have to wear a mask, but when they害羞草研究所檙e going to school they don害羞草研究所檛 have to wear one?害羞草研究所� she questioned. 害羞草研究所淚 understand they are following a protocol, but we all know what the right thing is to do.害羞草研究所�

There is a lack of understanding, Ashley said, about why people are asked to wear masks, and some people have been led to believe that children can害羞草研究所檛 get sick from COVID-19, which is not true.

害羞草研究所淧eople don害羞草研究所檛 understand they can also be carriers,害羞草研究所� she added.

She is also concerned that people on Vancouver Island have been complacent because the region has been spared from the numbers experienced in the Lower Mainland and other parts of the province, and because there haven害羞草研究所檛 been as many exposures in elementary schools.

害羞草研究所淚 hope people will take this seriously and change their ways,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淧revention is key. People should be doing everything possible to minimize this. I get that kids need to go to school, but we also need to keep the exposures down.害羞草研究所�

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