Public school students in Kamloops and across B.C. can go back to school if they choose as of June 1.

The BC government made that announcement this morning.

Education Minister Rob Fleming says kindergarten-grade five classrooms will be at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity, and grades six-12 will be at no more than 20 per cent.

He says recess, lunches and pick-up and drop-off times will be staggered at all schools.

Most of the 550,000 public school students in B.C. have been learning online since mid March because of schools being largely shut down with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing.

Fleming says about 5,000 students have still been in class – mostly younger students whose parents are healthcare workers and work in other essential services.

If parents don’t want their kids to go back, those students can finish the school year with classes online.

The Kamloops-Thompson School District told NL News this week that it would be ready to allow more students back as of May 25, but said a “reopening” date would ultimately be up to the provincial government.

More to come.