Province says students will be in the classroom in September

“We are determined to do everything that we can possibly do to safely return students to class. However, we will continue to adjust protocols as required on the advice of our chief medical officer of health and in consultation with the education system, said LaGrange, who said the decision was made now, amid a rise in cases, to provide clarity for the school system and families.

She said the overall plan was “somewhat trial-tested” in summer school programming and saw no major issues. LaGrange said Medicine Hat Public School Division was is one of the boards that ran in-person programming under the guidelines.

On the plan for if an outbreak occurs in a school, LaGrange said if there is a positive test a public health team will investigate to determine when symptoms developed and will support the school to minimize the transmission.

“Parents will be notified if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in their school, and public health officials will contact those who were in close contact with that person.”

If there are outbreaks in school or community settings, health officials and school authorities will discuss moving to partial in-class learning or at-home learning. The government will make the final decision on such a move based on factors such as the number of cases and the risk of ongoing transmission.

“There is no risk-free approach to COVID-19 but there are also risks to children’s overall health from school closures,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, said. “We are continually refining our public health advice for schools based on best available evidence. We also have plans in place to respond quickly when cases are identified. Limiting the spread of the virus in schools will require the dedication and support of all Albertans when the school year begins this fall.”

She said everyone in the school community will have to do their part and follow public health guidance to keep each other safe.

“We must be agile, adaptive and guided by the evidence as it emerges. This is the best way to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of students, staff, families and communities.”

Premier Jason Kenney says health and education officials have developed state-of-the-art protocols for minimizing the risk of transmission at schools and adds the protocols will be reviewed regularly.

“This does not mean there will be no cases in schools,” he said. “It means rather that we have calculated the relative risks of reopening against the risk of continued closures. And we’ve made the best decision to serve the public interest.”

Kenney said 86 per cent of respondents to an Alberta School Council Association survey said they want their children back in school.

Students and staff will be able to wear masks if they so choose, said Kenney, and Hinshaw added those who wear a mask should be supported if they choose so.

Other health measures at schools will include grouping students in cohorts, increased cleaning and daily-self assessments.

The education minister said school authorities have been receiving full funding allotments since July 1 and every school authority in the province is receiving a funding increase for the upcoming school year. She said she’s also approved the use of school board reserves to help cover costs local costs related to COVID-19.

Students and teachers returning to in-school teaching with some health measures was the preferred option of three potential scenarios presented by LaGrange in June.

One other scenario had in-school classes only partially resuming because of additional health requirements and at-home learning would continue in the third scenario.

Kenney issued a plea to Albertans to not give up the progress made.

“The last thing we want to have to do is re-impose damaging restrictions on our economy and our freedoms,” he said.

Medicine Hat has two new cases for a total of 56 over the course of the pandemic. There are five active cases, 50 recovered and there has been one death.

Alberta confirmed 141 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. The province now has 9,728 total cases — 1,193 active cases, an increase of 84, and 8,363 recovered cases, an increase of 55.

by Chris Brown

Province says students will be in the classroom in September

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