SURREY School District announced on Saturday that it will begin implementation of an order of the Medical Health Officer specific to face coverings in Surrey schools.

This order is specific to this district and requires all K-12 staff and all students in Grades 4 to 12 to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including when they are with their learning groups.

Exceptions include:

• If an individual is unable to wear a face covering because of a psychological, behavioral or health condition; or a physical, cognitive or intellectual impairment.
• If an individual is unable to put on or remove a face covering without the assistance of another person.
• While communicating with a person who has a hearing impairment.
• When an individual is actively eating or drinking.
• For teachers – if the face covering is removed while providing direct instruction at a distance of more than two metres from others.

For K-3 students, the Medical Health Officer strongly recommends and encourages the wearing of a non-medical mask, consistent with the above exceptions.

This order was developed by Fraser Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, in consultation with the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Education and Surrey Board of Education.

“This is welcome news and will offer an additional layer of protection for our staff and students. This mandate, in addition to the targeted measures announced earlier this month by our district, will allow our schools to safely continue face-to-face learning by following all appropriate measures to limit the spread of illness,” said the Surrey School District.

“We recognize this will be a change for some of our elementary students in Grades 4-7. We will work closely with schools to communicate these new measures with parents, and we will work with staff and families to ensure all of our students continue to have access to non-medical face masks.”