The Ford government lifted the mask mandate in most settings, including schools, in March and has so far refused to entertain speculative questions about whether it could be revived amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections.
In a new report released Thursday, the panel members said “mask wearing is likely the easiest temporary measure to implement if needed to support ongoing school operations.”
However, they did not provide specific recommendations on when it might make sense to do so.
“Based on currently available evidence, there was a lack of consensus among authors as to whether and when coverage should be mandated,” the report states.  “Studies have shown that schools with mask mandates, along with other health and safety measures, have been associated with a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to schools without mask mandates.  This suggests that coverage along with other measures can reduce transmission within schools, but the individual effect of coverage is difficult to determine.”
The fall semester of 2022 will be the first full semester since the start of the pandemic where students will not be required to wear masks in public schools.
In its report, the panel said “schools should continue to be mask-friendly environments” regardless of whether or not there is a mandate.
“First of all, a recognition that there are indeed benefits to wearing a mask. We know that we also recognize that there are downsides. And the bottom line of the team’s sense is that someone needs to continue to produce evidence going forward that carefully examines the benefits versus the risks said Dr. Upton Allen, the scientific panel’s co-chair.
“We also recognize that it is important that schools are effectively guided by their local public health authorities as it relates to what needs to be done.  Staff and students who wish to wear masks should be allowed to do so.  Their opinions should be respected.  “
Allen added that parents should focus on getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and making sure they are up to date with their routine vaccinations.
In the report, the scientific panel noted that there was “no evidence of negative cognitive effects” arising from mandatory mask policies in schools, but said that studies looking at psychological, communication and dermatological effects had “disparate results”.
“Therefore, it will be prudent to continue to assess and evaluate the impact of mask use so that we can make strong, informed decisions based on risks versus benefits in the future,” the report says.
The level of viral activity remained mostly unchanged from the previous week
The report from the scientific panel comes as the Department of Health releases new data on COVID-19, which shows most public health indicators are unchanged from a week ago.
The positivity rate over the past seven days was 13.22 percent, compared to 13.54 percent at the same time last week.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose to 1,354 from 1,328 a week ago.
Public Health Ontario said case rates are currently declining in 19 of the province’s 34 public health units, including Toronto.
But it also said case rates appeared to be rising among school-age children, with a 17% rise in cases between five to 11-year-olds this week and a 6% rise in cases between 12- to 19-year-olds.
However, in its report, the scientific panel said it does not foresee a need for temporary public health measures in schools at the start of the academic year due to the “wide uptake of vaccines for COVID-19, the increase in natural immunity and the significant reduction in severity of the disease they have offered’.
He said grouping could be reintroduced into classrooms, but “will probably only be justified if there is a large increase in communicable diseases with significant implications for children’s health”.
Similarly, the panel says the return of physical distance could be a “useful interim measure”, but only for certain age groups.
“Among younger children, recognizing that social interaction is central to child development and should be encouraged, grouping and masking are strategies that should be prioritized over physical distancing to enable interactions.  For older students, covering and distancing are preferred strategies over grouping because of the latter’s adverse effects on school, social interactions, sports, and extracurricular activities,” the report states.
The panel recommends several “permanent measures” to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, including improving indoor air quality and ensuring staff and students stay home when they are sick.