By Logan Stein

Not the time for provincial school closures

Schools will remain open in Medicine Hat

Mar 13, 2020 | 5:37 PM

While School closures were announced province-wide for Manitoba and Quebec today, following Ontario’s decision yesterday, Chief Medical Officer of Health in Alberta, Deena Hinshaw, announced that Alberta will not be having school closures.

Some post-secondary institutions will be affected by the government’s order to limit large gatherings to less than 250 people, as the University of Calgary will be focusing more on online learning for the remainder of the winter semester, and finals, because of this decision.

” We have a much more personal environment, so we haven’t had to take that step, and have been asked not to.”

When Mark Keller, executive director of community relations at Medicine Hat College, was asked about the current state of Medicine Hat College he said. ” Our context is quite different, the biggest lecture hall we have holds 134, and it’s usually not full. We have a much more personal environment, so we haven’t had to take that step and have been asked not to.”

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“It is not the time for a province wide closure of schools.”

Dr. Hinshaw addressed the media at a press conference today, reiterating Alberta’s message about taking measures to halt the spread of Covid-19. Saying that school closures are not a universally agreed upon measure, and won’t necessarily be effective. “It is not the time for a province wide closure of schools. The World Health Organization does not recommend school closure as the only way to prevent spread in the age group of young children. Instead, they also suggest a safe school checklist, which describes how school environments can be made safe for students, teachers, and staff.”

“Any school closure would need to be in effect for not weeks, but months in order to be effective.”

The Medicine Hat Catholic School Board, Medicine Hat Public School Division, and Prairie Rose School Division have claimed they will continue to operate with increased protection and preventative measures, until they are told otherwise.