A B.C. mother is frustrated that elementary school students haven91裸聊视频檛 been mandated 91裸聊视频� or at least strongly encouraged 91裸聊视频� 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 isn91裸聊视频檛 her main worry, but she feels bad missing time during a health emergency

91裸聊视频淭here is a big need for health care workers at this time,91裸聊视频� she pointed out. 91裸聊视频淎nd now I91裸聊视频檓 having to lose time from my job.91裸聊视频�

She sends her own son to school wearing a mask, and wishes that more parents would do the same if the provincial government won91裸聊视频檛 make it mandatory. She said she has talked to parents at other schools who feel the same way.

91裸聊视频淧revention is what we91裸聊视频檙e taught in healthcare,91裸聊视频� Ashley pointed out. 91裸聊视频淒o we want to wait until we end up like Fraser Health?91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� explained Mike Russell, spokesperson for the Cowichan Valley School District. 91裸聊视频淢asks are one added layer of protection that supplement other proven measures like hand washing and physical distancing.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲hen a child goes to the store, they have to wear a mask, but when they91裸聊视频檙e going to school they don91裸聊视频檛 have to wear one?91裸聊视频� she questioned. 91裸聊视频淚 understand they are following a protocol, but we all know what the right thing is to do.91裸聊视频�

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 can91裸聊视频檛 get sick from COVID-19, which is not true.

91裸聊视频淧eople don91裸聊视频檛 understand they can also be carriers,91裸聊视频� 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 haven91裸聊视频檛 been as many exposures in elementary schools.

91裸聊视频淚 hope people will take this seriously and change their ways,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淧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.91裸聊视频�

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