COVID-19: Masks required in BC classrooms from grades 4-12 in September | FULL

The B.C. government is bringing back a requirement for students in grades 4 to 12 to wear a mask in the classroom when in-person learning resumes next month, announced Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside on Tuesday.

The province is making the significant change to its back-to-school plan as the fourth wave of COVID-19 rages in the province, mainly infecting unvaccinated people. All K-to-12 staff and visitors will still need to wear masks indoors, and now kids in kindergarten to grade 3 will be strongly encouraged to wear masks.

Health authorities will also be able to introduce additional measures, specific to individual schools or districts, when community transmission rates are higher.

Previously, the province's top doctor, Bonnie Henry, outlined the new COVID-19 vaccine certificate program that will be required for people to access various social, recreational and discretionary businesses and events.

Starting Sept. 13, people will need to have at least one dose, with entry requiring those 12 and older to have been fully vaccinated seven days after the second dose. The businesses and events will include indoor ticketed sporting events and concerts, indoor and patio dining in restaurants, gyms, organized events like weddings and other events like choirs.

Henry added that at this time, they plan to have the certificate in place until January, though they would consistently be reassessing throughout the fall.

For more info, please go to: https://globalnews.ca/news/8136053/bc-back-to-school-covid-plan-2021/

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