BC’s mask mandate does not currently extend to childcare facilities, including both preschools and daycare. According to the BCCDC Child care guidelines, staff and other adults are not required to wear a mask in an indoor setting, but they may choose to do so. The reasoning behind this, is due to the importance of facial expressions and movements on children’s learning and development.

With this in mind, many of these children are only in these settings for a few hours each week. They will encounter many mask-less faces at home, and in outdoor settings. These children are not eligible for the COVID vaccine at this time, nor are they wearing masks due to their age. As child care settings are not part of the vaccine passports, there will be adults in these settings whom are not vaccinating and not wearing a mask. This puts these children at risk for contracting COVID-19 if they are exposed to it while in their child care setting.

We understand the importance of children seeing facial expressions and movements for learning and development. However there are alternative options including temporarily removing a mask, and/or wearing a clear mask. It is our responsibility as adults to look after our children, this includes doing all that we can in protecting them against COVID-19.

We ask that Dr. Bonnie Henry, Minister Adrian Dix, and Premier John Horgan consider extending the mask mandate to include all adults in childcare facilities.