New measures will take effect in schools on Monday as officials try to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the education system.
The measures, which were announced on Friday, are in addition to new masking policies which went into effect early last week.
Schools will use classroom bubbles as much as possible and look for ways to encourage greater physical distancing between groupings, such as adjusting lunch or recess schedules.
Physical education classes will be taught outside, weather permitting, and students and staff must wear masks if taught indoors.
Assemblies are no longer allowed until further notice and only classroom bubble-friendly field trips will be permitted for kindergarten to Grade 8 students.
Families are being asked to drive their children to school, if possible, to reduce the risk of transmission on buses and allow for greater physical distancing.
Starting Wednesday, all students who are eligible to be vaccinated and do not have a medical exemption must be vaccinated to participate in indoor or outdoor extracurricular and intramural activities.
“The growing number of cases of COVID-19 in communities is having a significant impact on public school operations,” Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy said in a news release Friday.
“We have a duty to protect our students, especially those under 12 who are not yet eligible to receive protection through COVID-19 vaccines.”
New Brunswick had 370 active COVID-19 cases as of Friday, the highest number of active cases at any time during the pandemic.
According to provincial officials, 20 schools have been affected by “about 80 confirmed cases” of COVID-19 so far this school year. By comparison, there were about 100 cases across 50 schools during the 2020-21 school year.
Officials said the measures will be reviewed regularly in the coming days and weeks.
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