On Wednesday evening the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division notified the public that a case of COVID-19 has been connected to an individual or individuals at several schools across the division.
These include Canwood Public School, WP Sandin Public School in Shellbrook, Queen Mary Public School, Carlton Comprehensive High School and Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI).
“This is an unexpected number of cases in a single day and it highlights the importance for families to plan for the SHA student vaccination program that is available now in various clinic locations and will begin next week in schools across the province,” director of education Robert Bratvold said in the release.
According to the division at Canwood the staff and students associated with Grade 2/3 classroom will be required to self-isolate until midnight May 31 and the Grade 7/8 students will be required to self-isolate until midnight June 3.
At Queen Mary the staff and students associated with two Grade 1 classrooms will be required to self-isolate until midnight June 2.
At Carlton the students in potentially affected classrooms have been directed to self-monitor so there will be no isolations required at this time.
At WP Sandin since the school is in Level 4 Learning because of a series of cases last week the remote learning will continue and the affected Grade 11 classes will extend their self-isolation until midnight June 2. Finally at PACI the staff and students associated with Grade 9 classroom and Grade 11 classroom will be required to self-isolate until midnight May 31.
As well, there is no evidence that the cases were acquired or transmitted at the schools and in person learning will continue for the rest of the school except WP Sandin which will continue in Level 4 Remote Learning as previously scheduled.
Once the division was informed of the positive COVID-19 test results communication was shared with the classrooms/cohorts, the connected staff, as well as with the school community.
The learning program will continue remotely only for those students and staff affected while in-person learning will continue for the rest of the school.
As is the circumstance in all reports of COVID-19 in the division due to privacy concerns, further details of the case will not be shared.
They explained that both the local Medical Health Officer and the provincial Chief Medical Health Officer continue to indicate that because of the protocols in place, schools are safe and are not a significant source of transmission.
They explained that we all share the responsibility to minimize the risk of COVID transmission.
“The division deeply appreciates the support that students, parents and community members have demonstrated.”
