OCDSB trustees reject mandating face masks for young children in schools -

The trustees at Ottawa’s largest public school have voted against a motion to make face masks mandatory for young children.

After a lengthy debate, the trustees at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board defeated the motion 8-4. The board’s guidance for children from kindergarten to Grade 3 remains the same – face masks are strongly recommended, but not required.

One of the trustees brought forward the motion to make face masks mandatory for younger elementary school children. Right now, students in kindergarten to grade three are encouraged, but not required to wear a face mask.

The board’s guidance for children from kindergarten to Grade 3 remains the same – face masks are strongly recommended, but not required.

The Medical Officer of Health and Eastern Ontario Health Unit disagrees with the mandatory mask rule. Young children will be too distracted by the mask and therefore not able to wear it properly for long periods of time.

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