Mask-wearing Rule Lifted While Outdoors Starting on Dec.1 12/1起取消室外戴口罩 校園將同步實施

The CECC has announced that masks will no longer be required while outdoors starting on Dec. 1. Although the Ministry of Education hasn't yet issued guidelines for schools, some elementary school principals are looking forward to the easing of the requirement. Students and visitors will still be required to wear masks while indoors.

Students have their physical education class outdoors in 28 degree Celsius weather under a mostly clear sky. All of them are wearing masks. Although they are all accustomed to wearing masks in school, they were still excited when they heard masks will no longer be required outdoors starting on Dec. 1.

Taipei Municipal Guang-fu Elem. School Student: “I think it's great, because sometimes you forget to put your mask on and then…”

The principal of Taipei Municipal Guang-fu Elementary School said schools haven't yet received any official documentation, but it will be more comfortable for students to engage in outdoor activities when they don't have to wear masks. Students will still be required to mask up while indoors, so they will need to get in the habit of storing their masks in their desks.

Lai Chun-hsien, Principal, Taipei Municipal Guang-fu Elem. School: “They may lose it if they just have it dangling from their wrist or only remove it after they're outside. If they can have their masks safely stored before they leave the classroom, then they can put it on once they return. I think we will flexibly guide the children.”

Student's Grandmother: “Most children obey their teachers, so if their teachers instruct them on what to do, there shouldn't be any problems.”

Schools also say that visitors will need to wear masks when entering any indoor space, and they won't have any excessive requirements as they relax restrictions in line with the rest of Taiwan. However, local education authorities will have the final say. Meanwhile, family doctors say students often gather in groups and the flu and RSV are both going around, so restrictions shouldn't be relaxed too hastily.

台北市晴天有雲，攝氏28度，小學生們在操場上體育課，不管是打樂樂棒球還是跑步，全戴著口罩，雖然已習慣戴口罩上課，聽到12月1日起，在戶外上課、玩耍免戴口罩，有學生很開心。

北市光復國小學生說道：「我覺得很好啊，因為就是有時候會忘記戴口罩。」

光復國小校長賴俊賢說，目前未收到公文，不過戶外上課免戴罩小朋友比較舒服，且跟著社會解封，對此樂觀其成。由於回教室仍要戴，認為把口罩收好放在抽屜最為妥當。

光復國小校長賴俊賢指出：「因為如果掛在手上或者是跑到外面來才脫下來，可能會有遺失的問題，如果可以從教室離開就把口罩收好，進去教室再戴起來，我想這個應該是可以彈性來指導孩子。」

國小學生的祖母提及：「一般的小朋友都蠻聽老師的話，如果老師有指導的話，應該都沒有問題。」

針對校外人士，賴俊賢認為，只要進室內就會要求戴，戶外則和社會同步調，不會做過嚴要求，不過還是要等教育局指引。而家醫科醫師柳朋馳表示，學生較易有群聚，現在還有流感跟RSV，可稍微觀察一下，不要太快放鬆。