Science table stops short of recommending masks in Ontario schools, citing ‘lack of consensus’ – CBC

Meanwhile, Ontario’s weekly reported COVID-19 deaths jump from 56 to 89

Aug 25, 2022

Ontario’s COVID-19 science table stopped short of recommending masks in the classroom for the upcoming school year, citing a “lack of consensus” as the province saw a nearly 60 per cent jump in reported deaths linked to the virus over the last seven days.

In its latest report Thursday, the Ontario Science Advisory Table said a the lack of consensus among co-authors on mask mandates meant that it will not make a formal recommendation, and leave it up to individual choice.

“It is recognized that some school staff and students may continue to wear a mask even in the absence of a mandate,” the report reads. “This choice should be respected, schools should be mask-friendly environments.”

Ontario has previously said there would be no mandatory masking in schools this fall. The science table said “temporary measures” like masking, distancing, cohorting, screening, and testing “pose additional challenges to school operations, school learning, and student wellness.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-aug-25-2022-7th-wave-1.6562465