The provinces Chief Medical Health Official says overall COVID risk posed by children in the classroom is lower than in any areas.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald was responding to questions raised by parents who say they want to be notified of a positive COVID case in their child’s classroom.
Thousands of people are already following a Facebook page designated to help notify parents of COVID cases in their school room.
Fitzgerald says while the decision is sent to child’s school is ultimately up to the parent the overall public health risk is lower than in the schoolroom.
Children are wearing masks, there is no cohorting, hand sanitizing and screening is in place to prevent children from attending class while sick says Fitzgerald all of which help to keep the risk low.
Amanda Bambary who created the Facebook information for parents – COVID cases in NL Schools says while its important for students to be school government has had plenty of time to set up reasonable virtual learning options for those who who cannot attend not just as a result of COVID but to meet the needs of students who cannot attend class for a variety of reasons including those who actually do better in a virtual learning environment.