The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) has reversed a decision made last October requiring Kindergarten students to wear masks while inside. Ontario has mandated that all students in Grades 1 to 12 wear a mask inside, and although kindergarten students weren’t included, the UCDSB voted in October to extend it to them following local public health recommendations.  

However, during a regular update to trustees regarding the public health situation, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU)’s Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said that masking kindergarteners is still “strongly encouraged,” but not required. Masking has been much less effective in kindergarteners than older children, possibly because kindergarteners often wear their masks incorrectly. 

Roumeliotis added that he expects an announcement about removing mask mandates in schools, either partially or fully, within the next few weeks. This move to recommending masks for kindergarteners instead of requiring them is a step towards that. 

Following the presentation, the UCDSB voted to remove the masking requirement for kindergarteners.