No classroom bubbles or masks in class when Quebec students return this fall – CBC

Province optimistic more activities will be allowed compared to last year

Aug 11, 2021

Quebec won’t require students in primary and secondary schools to wear masks when they are sitting at their desks this fall as the province seeks to create a more normal classroom setting for the coming academic year.

Teachers will also not be required to wear masks if they can maintain the two-metre distance, and students will no longer need to stay in their classroom bubbles throughout the day.

Education Minister Jean-François Roberge announced the changes Wednesday in laying out his back-to-school plan.

At a news conference, Roberge said the high vaccination rate among 12- to 17-year-olds allowed for an easing of restrictions, despite the province heading into the beginning of a fourth wave of COVID-19.

As it stands, 82 per cent of teens in that age group have received a dose of vaccine, and 48 per cent have received both. Roberge said he expects at least 77 per cent will be fully vaccinated by the time classes resume.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-roberge-education-1.6137293