More students get back to school Tuesday and masks are optional
When the school bell rings Tuesday, tens of thousands of students in the capital will make their grand return to the classroom.
"I'm excited for them to go back and have normality," said Amanda Pierce. Her son Nathan will be starting Grade 2 and he won't be be wearing a mask.
"I don't want to wear a mask because it bothers me," he said.
Ottawa's school boards say masks are optional for students and staff.
Kumuthini Paramanathan's daughter Aashna is also back to in-person learning, choosing to wear a mask indoors.
"I think I'll wear it most of the time, but not that much outside," she said.
For many, it's a return to what could be the most normal school year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But some have raised concerns about Ontario ending five-day isolation for people who test positive for COVID-19.
"I'm not really comfortable with that," said high school student Avery Crummey. "I feel the five days are the time you need to get over COVID."
Health experts say the decision to lift isolation rules could pave the way for more spread within schools and trigger another wave.
"We know COVID is transmitted primarily in indoor settings," said infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch. "We aren't going to see anything different."
But there are steps to reduce risk of infection. Bogoch recommends wearing a mask in indoor spaces and staying home when you're sick.
"COVID or not, people shouldn't be coming to school or work when they're sick," he said. "We know that people still do, and if they are still transmissible to others and that's where the masking helps."
There is no formal recommendation on if or when to reintroduce mandatory masking in schools, but after three school years with disruptions due to COVID-19, health experts says the prioirty is to keep kids in the classroom.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.