19 of the province's 55 pediatricians and pediatric specialists have written an open letter to the New Brunswick government, calling on the province to reinstate mandatory masking in schools and for preschool staff.

The letter was addressed to Education Minister Dominic Cardy, Premier Blaine Higgs, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. In it, the 19 pediatricians recommend continuous mask use indoors for the rest of the school year, saying that masking is a proven protection against COVID-19 transmission.

The pediatricians said reinstating masking in schools would give more time for those aged five to 11 to get vaccinated, which would also lower the risk of COVID-19 infection.

The other three Atlantic provinces have all kept masking requirements in schools, despite lifting most other public health restrictions.