ATHABASCA — Grade 7-9 French Immersion students at Edwin Parr Composite School (EPC) are going back online for their lessons until May 3, after two more people associated with the school tested positive for COVID-19.
Just two days after returning to in-person classes, Aspen View Public Schools (AVPS) reported in an April 21 media release that two more positive cases had been identified in the school, and although contact was minimal, all close contacts have been directed to stay home.
“In both instances, the exposure of the positive cases within the school was very limited, with less than six student close contacts associated with each case,” stated the release.
Due to the number of staff in isolation and a shortage of substitutes, French Immersion will shift to online learning from April 22 to May 3.
“Teachers will communicate with students and families associated with those classes with further information regarding online learning,” said the release.
The day before, a similar release from the school division noted two other cases at Thorhild Central School had been identified there as well and as a result, students in Grades 9-12 would be returning to online learning for the rest of the week, with a scheduled return to in-person learning April 26. Nineteen students and five staff were identified as close contacts and directed to remain at home.
“We are implementing this shift to online learning in the abundance of caution, based on past experience with COVID-19 and potential variants,” Supt. Neil O’Shea commented. “Aspen View Public Schools will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases associated with the school and in the community, and the shift to online learning may be extended, or incorporate additional grades, should circumstances warrant.”
Athabasca has seen numbers drop in recent days after the initial outbreak at EPC was announced at the end of March resulting in the closure of all three schools in the Town of Athabasca to transition to online learning until April 19.
There are currently 79 active cases in the Athabasca region — including the Town of Athabasca and the Village of Boyle — with 460 recoveries and one death, making for 540 total cases since March 2020.
In Thorhild County, there are nine active cases and the region has seen 69 recoveries and zero deaths, for a total of 78 cases since the pandemic started.
“Aspen View and TCS administration are diligently following Alberta Health Services guidance to ensure the necessary steps are taken to protect the health and safety of students and staff,” said O'Shea.
AVPS reminds parents and guardians, as well as staff, to monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. The Alberta Health daily checklist can be found here. The school division asks the checklist be completed each day prior to attending school.
If any of the core symptoms listed on the Alberta Health daily checklist are observed, it is advised to keep your child at home and fill out the online Alberta Health Services COVID-19 self-assessment or call Health Link at 811.
More information from Alberta Health on the variants can be found here
Information on quarantine and isolation can be found here.
And Alberta’s mandatory public health restrictions can be viewed here.
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