Some Ontario parents say government-issued COVID masks don’t properly fit students
Posted January 19, 2022 3:24 pm.
Last Updated January 19, 2022 6:08 pm.
A number of parents have raised concerns about the cloth COVID-19 masks provided to students by the Ford government as part of the return to in-person learning, saying they don’t properly fit some children.
Several parents have reached out to CityNews with their concerns including one mother, who shared a picture of the black cloth mask falling off her young son’s face, not providing proper protection.
What’s more, it appears the masks are only good for just 20 washes.
The Ford government says there are two sizes of cloth masks available for students, and school boards have been sent both dimensions, though some parents say even the smaller size is too big for their children.
These are the same types of COVID-19 masks provided to students back in the fall.
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- The Ford government provided students masks for schools but some parents say they aren’t fitting properly.
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- The Ford government provided students masks for schools but some parents say they aren’t fitting properly.
“A key component is that they fit well, so one would hope that in the educational sector they are helping students ensure that the masks are appropriately fitting and [that] all masks have to cover the nose right down to the chin,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, who added, “If that’s a quality assurance issue we have to follow up with we absolutely will.”
The government says more shipments of varying sizes of masks are on the way and is encouraging school boards to work with students to ensure they’re receiving the right size option.
Last week, the province revealed details of its back-to-school plan, confirming students and staff would return to classrooms on Monday, January 17.
That was delayed by two days for most GTA school boards after most in-person and online classes were cancelled due to a historic winter storm.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce outlined various measures to keep schools safe and open amid a surging wave of COVID-19 Omicron cases. He said the province’s return to in-person learning would focus on rapid testing and improved ventilation, as well as more access to vaccinations and personal protective equipment (PPE).
The province’s plan includes doling out two rapid antigen tests to each student and staff member to be used when symptomatic.
On Tuesday, Lecce and Dr. Moore penned a letter to parents and guardians confirming that school-based vaccine clinics are launched as millions of students and staff return to class.
The pair said Ontario students and children have benefitted from continuous efforts “to protect schools and child care settings, including high-quality masks, enhanced cleaning and improvements in air ventilation in every school.”
Lecce and Moore said more than 70,000 HEPA filter units and other ventilation devices had been deployed to date.
Students had been learning remotely since the beginning of the month.
