As COVID-19 numbers continue to spike in the region the public school board is not changing course.
Board spokesperson A.J. Keene explains even though students at Kingsway and Westgate schools are learning virtually this week, there are no plans to make that system-wide.
Keene notes “It’s actually a pretty big deal to have a district go virtual. It would have been strongly recommended or ordered by the public health unit,” or through the approval of the deputy minister of education.
He also tells parents not to be frightened if they hear there may be a COVID-19 outbreak at their child’s school since public health defines an outbreak as two cases.
“You could have a thousand kids in a school and have an outbreak declared because two students have confirmed cases…so even though the word outbreak can be pretty scary…it’s pretty minimal…where that phrase is triggered,” says Keene.
The board official says based on the pattern of community spread of the virus he expects more school cases this week.
