N.B. students expected to return to in-person learning Jan. 31
New Brunswick’s education and early childhood development minister is hopeful students will return to in-person learning on Jan. 31, but public health will have the final say later this week.
“Certainly I'm optimistic it will be next week, because that was the date public health gave us," said Dominic Cardy. "But I'm not going to pre-judge their conclusions.”
Cardy unveiled the province’s back-to-school plan, which included certain public health safety protocols, such as masking, classroom bubbles and vaccine requirements for extracurricular activities, during a news conference on Monday.
Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 will be grouped in bubbles and everyone will be required to wear a mask, unless eating or drinking.
Cardy added there is a possibility that the province will remain in its Level 3 phase of COVID-19 restrictions by the time students return to school. If that happens, Cardy said all students will be expected to wear masks indoors and outdoors.
The education minister said it is recommended students wear a three-layer mask to school.
"It's a question of controlling the spread, not stopping it, and our schools are not going to be immune," said Cardy.
Cardy added that students from kindergarten to Grade 12 who develop one symptom of COVID-19 should register for a rapid test online.
Should a student test positive, Cardy said families will be responsible for notifying schools and all close contacts.
The minister also said, given the rapid spread of Omicron, the province has spent $3 million to purchase 2,000 HEPA filter units for 60 schools without integrated mechanical ventilation units. The filters are expected to be installed by Monday.
The assistant deputy minister said they commissioned a report that points to some benefit.
"We don't have studies specific to COVID, but we do have studies documenting that particulate matter can be taken out of the air effectively by these devices in closed settings," said Robert Penney.
As for vaccines, Cardy would like to see them become mandatory, but said they are looking at other ways to increase the vaccine rate.
"I think it should be a requirement, from my perspective," he said. "The in-school clinics that we offered had fairly limited pick-up, but we're going to take advice from public health on how best to increase that total number so we can make sure as many of the student population are vaccinated as possible."
The New Brunswick Teachers' Association says members will meet with teacher leaders across the province Tuesday evening to discuss the details released on Monday.
VACCINE UPDATE
Meanwhile, the province says there are plenty of appointments available for parents and guardians looking to book their child’s first or second vaccine dose.
“It is important for parents with children aged five to 11 to get their child vaccinated to help protect against COVID-19 before in-person learning and other activities resume,” said Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health. “This will reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus and spreading it to others.”
To date, 54.5 per cent of children in that age group have received their first dose. Public health says those children can receive their second dose eight weeks after getting their first.
The province says booster doses are available to everyone 18 and over, as long as five months have passed since their second dose. So far, 38.7 per cent of those eligible have received their COVID-19 booster.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
New Brunswick said 131 people were in hospital with COVID-19 on Monday, including 12 people in intensive care.
Of those in hospital, 74 were hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19.
The province said 101 people in hospital are over 60, and three are 19 years of age or under. Four people are on a ventilator.
COVID-19 CASE COUNT
Public health says there are 469 health-care workers isolating who have tested positive for the virus.
According to the province’s COVID-19 dashboard, there are 381 new COVID-19 cases reported Monday through PCR tests, and 659 reported through rapid tests.
Three people have also died from the virus. This includes a person 90 and over in Zone 1 (Moncton region), a person between 80-89 in Zone 2 (Saint John region) and a person between 70-79 years old in Zone 4 (Edmundston region).
The entire province of New Brunswick is currently in the Level 3 phase of its COVID-19 winter plan.
More information is available online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.