Alberta education minister ‘not anticipating’ school mask mandate despite early, numerous student absences

Alberta’s education minister reiterated her government’s line that Albertans should not expect mask mandates in schools, despite early and high numbers of student absences.

“We’ve been very clear that we don’t expect to go to a mask mandate,” Adriana LaGrange said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, adding that students and staff can make the “personal decision” to wear a mask or respirator. wear.

Premier Danielle Smith said on Monday that wearing masks “should be a personal choice” and would instead focus on getting more over-the-counter medicine to help with illness, rather than preventing viral spread.

“But we’re not going to mandate masks,” Smith said Monday.

“Obviously, we’re in post-pandemic mode,” LaGrange said Wednesday.

The education minister’s comments came on the same day Alberta’s new interim chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mark Joffe, issued a statement regarding the increase in respiratory viruses in Alberta.

“Winter is historically the peak season for respiratory infections. Like other jurisdictions, Alberta is seeing an early increase in seasonal infections, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19, and is expecting a severe season,” said Joffe.

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AHS says Albertans should put on masks as respiratory illnesses spread

Joffe said most of Australia’s flu cases were in children and teenagers, and children under 16 accounted for the majority of flu hospitalisations. He expected the same to happen in Alberta.

“Over the last few weeks, Alberta has seen an increase in reports of symptoms such as cough and fever in schools and daycares,” Joffe said. “We are closely monitoring the situation in schools.”

Calgary Board of Education Chief Superintendent Christopher Usih said Tuesday that more Calgary public school students are sick earlier this year.

On November 15, just shy of 12 percent of students were absent, up from nearly nine percent the week before.

“It’s significantly higher than we would expect to see this time of year,” Usih said at Tuesday’s trustee meeting. “We are also experiencing higher levels of staff absence due to illness… The pressure of unfilled positions has increased over the past two weeks. “

Edmonton public schools had an absenteeism rate of 13.72 percent on Nov. 10.

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Dr. Isaac Bogoch answers questions about masks, hospitals and children’s medication

Usih said even as he tried to hire more substitute teachers and support staff in anticipation of illnesses, he said more than 270 teaching posts and 100 support staff posts were not being filled every day. There are 249 schools in CBE.

“This is putting significant pressure on some of our schools that have to significantly change the organization of staff and students to ensure that learning continues,” Usih said, noting that there could be a transition to home learning.

Spokespeople for CBE, Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic Schools confirmed that none of their classes had to transition to homeschooling.

But a Calgary Catholic School District spokesperson told Global News they have allowed classes to go online.

“Two classrooms temporarily transitioned to online learning this week due to higher absenteeism and operational challenges,” the CCSD said in an email.

Mask an option

Usih said there are ways to stop the spread of respiratory viruses such as influenza, COVID-19 or RSV beyond the changes the school board has made to increase air filtration and circulation where possible.

“We continue to encourage our students and staff to stay home when they are sick, to wash hands and cover coughs and sneezes,” Usih said on Tuesday. “Masking is also an available option for any staff member or student who wishes to wear a mask.”

LaGrange said the Ministry of Education is in constant contact with school divisions to ensure they have the support they need to keep children in class.

“That said, it varies a lot right across the province, so there’s not a one size fits all for this situation. What I would say is we’re going to continue to monitor the situation,” LaGrange said. “Obviously we will take guidance from the new chief medical officer of health.”

Joffe did advise on masking as part of “daily actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.”

“Wearing a well-fitting, high-quality mask can help reduce the risk of getting sick and help protect others from exposure,” Joffe said.

2:45
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City of Edmonton officials are also keeping an eye on the respiratory disease situation in the city. But any mask ordinance on transit or in city-owned buildings is not on the immediate horizon.

“City administration has not recently recommended consideration of a mask ordinance to the City Council,” a statement from the city said. “People are welcome to wear masks on transit and in city buildings, and since the most recent easing of health restrictions, we encourage our employees to respect each person’s choice about mask wearing.”

In a change to the Municipal Government Act in April, municipalities must get approval from the minister of municipal affairs before enacting new mask or proof of vaccination regulations “that will have an impact on private sector operators.” But mask requirements on city-owned property could be imposed, with Rebecca Schulz’s permission.

The City of Calgary said it is not considering requesting that permission.

“The city is closely monitoring public health advisories to keep employees and members of the public safe and will not be making a recommendation to reinstate a mask mandate at this time,” a statement to Global News said. “We encourage City of Calgary employees to help fight viruses at home and at work by washing their hands regularly, cleaning as they go and supporting the use of face masks as a personal choice. We encourage everyone in Calgary to take personal health actions to limit the spread of respiratory illness.”

Hospitals continue to swell with COVID patients

Alberta added 51 more people to COVID hospitalizations and 44 more people to the pandemic death toll in the latest weekly reporting period.

As of November 14, 1,141 COVID-19 hospitalizations were counted across the province, with 40 in ICU. This is an increase of 51 and four respectively.

Provincial data shows that one new COVID ICU patient appears to be from each of the one to four and five to nine age groups. Eight babies under the age of one were added to hospitalization numbers in the past week, as well as three from ages one to four.

ICUs countywide are at 88 percent capacity, according to AHS information.

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Two acute care centers in Edmonton and one in Calgary have declared COVID outbreaks in the past week.

Three patients in one unit tested positive for COVID-19 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital on Thursday. And on Tuesday, six patients tested positive at Villa Caritas, an acute mental health facility specializing in senior care.

Four patients tested positive in a unit at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary on Monday.