Catholic schools reinstate COVID-19 rules while awaiting provincial guidance

EDMONTON (CityNews) – Edmonton and Calgary Catholic Schools are reinstating COVID-19 safety measures as hundreds of students prepare to return to school.

Three schools that operate all year in Alberta’s capital, which are set to open Wednesday, are bringing back mandatory masking, screening protocols, and enhanced cleaning as they await updated guidelines from the provincial government.

Those measures will be implemented at St. Teresa of Calcutta Elementary School, St. Catherine Catholic Elementary and Junior High and St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary and Junior High.

Edmonton School Division spokeswoman Christine Meadows said further guidance is expected from the province in mid-August, which will direct back-to-school plans for students returning in September.

Calgary’s Catholic School District followed suit saying a staggered restart would take place between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3.

“Please know that we have been working hard on our School Resumption Guidelines. For now, we are in a holding pattern until we hear more from the provincial government,” said Chief Superintendent of the CCSD Dr. Bryan Szumlas in a statement.

“Let me assure you that CCSD’s plan will be safe and reasonable. Protecting our students, guests and staff will be a top priority.”

The move comes as Alberta leads the country in active COVID-19 cases. There are 3,463 active infections in the province after another 279 cases were reported Tuesday.

A total of 133 people are in hospital, including 29 in intensive care.

Testing, tracing and isolation requirements have been lifted in the province, with quarantine no longer mandatory for positive cases starting Aug. 16.

Other Alberta school districts, which have students returning in September, said they are still working on their return-to-school plans.

Megan Normandeau, a spokeswoman for Edmonton Public Schools, said the district is reviewing Alberta’s changes to public health guidelines and the potential impact to students and staff.

Calgary’s public school board similarly said it is monitoring an evolving situation.

In a statement from the Calgary Board of Education, spokeswoman Megan Geyer said the district is working closely with Alberta’s health and education ministries “to ensure appropriate health and safety protocols are adhered to in our schools and workplaces.”

Geyer said the board is sharing additional information with staff and families later this month.

-with files from the Canadian Press