That very question was asked yesterday of Health Minister Cameron Friesen who was not entirely firm in his answer.

“Has there been consideration given? Absolutely.” Right now, Friesen says the province is hoping to proceed without requiring the use of masks in schools, though that could be subject to change.

“We still remain some weeks away from the reopening of schools. The evidence of what we see between now and then will be important in informing these kinds of decisions.”

Friesen recognizes that the majority of parents, students, and educators want classes to look as normal as possible. “At this point, we know there is an appetite from families for things to get back to how they were,” he offers.

Addressing Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen’s announcement made last week, Friesen says his government intends to follow the norm as closely as they can while keeping health and safety as the top priorities.

By comparison, British Columbia right now is not requiring masks in schools, but the province says “it is a personal choice that will always be respected”. Likewise, Quebec’s government has not prescribed masks for students or teachers. However, if a teacher has to be less than two metres from a student, they are necessitated. In Alberta, meanwhile, masks will be mandatory for staff and even students in certain school settings. Students between grades 4 to 12 must wear masks in shared areas like buses or hallways, while they are optional for kids in grades 3 and under.