Concerns continue to mount over COVID spread in Alberta schools

CALGARY — COVID-19 cases are rising among young Albertans — with the latest per capita rates the highest among people between the ages of five and 19.

Meanwhile, there is continued concern about a lack of information on viral spread in schools.

Groups like Support Our Students Alberta have been trying to keep track of school cases and say they are aware of COVID cases in at least 82 schools so far.

“We’re seeing a few rural schools having to close, they were on outbreak, then citing operational challenges, so we’re filling in a lot of blanks,” said SOS spokesperson Wing Li.

Parents and staff are sharing information of positive cases to SOS Alberta, and school boards are being forced to draft their own notification policies as well, due to the lack of provincial guidance.

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“We’re even getting letters, per day, that say ‘Today we have 10 students report positive,'” said Li.

Li adds this is an issue that should be handled by the province.

“The concern is there’s no structure at all, there’s no consistency in what should be done this year. It’s really a free for all.”

Meanwhile, Jason Schilling, the president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, says they have long been calling for the province to take charge of the situation to help ease the worries.

“It’s a really good indication and a really great example of how the provincial government has abdicated its responsibility and leadership during this time with school,” said Schilling.

Last week, the Calgary Board of Education sent a letter to the province, calling on them to bring in more protocols like what was seen last year, while the Calgary Catholic School District is also looking for contact tracing and rapid testing kits.