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For centuries, we have treated our physical health needs with ever-growing awareness of how to do so effectively. Mental health has also slowly entered the mainstream purview. But we still have a painfully long way to go in our understanding of its impact on overall health and how to support those with mental health struggles.
The pandemic and the public health strategies chosen to address it will, hopefully, illuminate the need to include another essential component in our understanding of overall health: Social health.
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by Craig Takeuchi on February 4th, 2021 at 5:20 PM 1 of 2 2 of 2
Today, B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, and B.C. School Trustees Association president Stephanie Higginson announced expanded health measures in schools.
Among the updated measures are making masks mandatory in all indoor school spaces (with specific exceptions) for all students and staff except elementary students, and more guidelines for physical education and music classes.
In addition, the federal government extended a prohibition on cruise ships in all Canadian waters and all pleasure craft entering Canada s Arctic waters, which was scheduled to expire at the end of this month, until February 2022.
B.C. strengthens mask rules for middle, high school students and K-12 staff
An empty classroom is pictured at Eric Hamber Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, March 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward February 04, 2021 - 1:20 PM
VICTORIA - British Columbia s education minister said safety protocols must evolve alongside the COVID-19 pandemic as she announced an expansion of mask requirements in schools.
Jennifer Whiteside said Thursday that students in middle and secondary school and staff for kindergarten through Grade 12 will be required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas of the school, including while in their learning groups.
The exceptions will be when they are sitting or standing at their desk or work station in a classroom, when there is a barrier in place or when they are eating or drinking, she said.
The exceptions will be when they are sitting or standing at their desk or work station in a classroom, when there is a barrier in place or when they are eating or drinking, she said.
Previously, students and staff were only required to wear masks in areas where interactions are not controlled, such as in hallways, libraries and on school buses. It is critical to remember that masks do not prevent the spread of COVID-19 on their own, Whiteside said.
For elementary school students, wearing masks indoors remains a personal choice, she said.
The new mask mandate does not go as far as some provinces with higher COVID-19 infection rates. In Quebec, high schoolers must wear masks at all times inside school buildings and in Ontario, the rule also applies to elementary students.