Daycare, K-12 classes cancelled

ATHABASCA/BARRHEAD/WESTLOCK - Community transmission and 17 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta prompted the government to close schools and daycares effective immediately.

In a press conference Sunday afternoon, the government also committed $500 m. to the health care budget, acknowledging of the unprecedented situation Alberta is facing.

“I think it’s an appropriate response because it’s very much anxiety-inducing when we don’t know what to do. At least now, there’s been a decision and I can tell you my anxiety level has gone down,” said Christine Villeneuve, director of the Westlock Childcare Society.

The fact that kids are not coming through the doors, however, doesn’t mean that educators are off the clock. Teachers are encouraged to plan for alternatives, especially for Grade 12 students.

"There's not script for this. All I know is what everybody else knows from the press release just an hour ago. ... I'm just waiting for some direction as to what exactly we're supposed to do," said Westlock Elementary School principal Pierre Ouimet.

Out of the 17 newly discovered cases, two may have been acquired through community transmission from an unknown source, and seven were the result of the same gathering in the Calgary area.

“These two cases mean that there are other cases in the community that we have not identified, increasing the likelihood that Albertans may be exposed within their communities,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officers.

Students will be prohibited from attending classes in K-12 and postsecondary institutions. Licensed childcare facilities, out-of-school care programs and preschool programs have also been closed indefinitely.

One exemption was made for approved day homes because of the small number of children they care for.

“I have heard clearly from (school leaders) that the guidance provided by Alberta Health is proving extremely difficult to put into practice at the frontlines due to product shortages, challenges with staffing and other operational issues.

“Based on what we’ve seen over the last two days, it is clear to me that now is the time for additional action,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer for the province.

Previous efforts to contain the spread of the virus in the province have been focused on recent travelers and their close contacts. Gatherings of 250 people, the government suggested March 13, should be cancelled.

School and daycare closures, while alleviating the possibility of transmission in communities, are still leaving principals and directors with administrative queries.

“I still have a lot of questions of course because there are still a lot of unknowns. … Schools are still getting their whole allotment of their block funding for the year so they can still pay their teachers but how does that work for out-of-school care and daycare staff who are private businesses?” said Villeneuve.

She clarified that for her educators, the closure is not a holiday, but an incitement to self-isolate.

“I’m more worried about the families, the children, and the staff. What am I doing to ensure that the families know what to do?”

Her reaction, which she says has been on her mind since news of the virus spreading to Alberta became available, will be to provide alternative activities via social media for parents who are caring for their children indoors.

“Everything that I find, I share. … If I’m the only one that’s informed, how does that help anybody?”

She recommends that parents talk to their kids about the situation and ask them what they know, and additional links to at-home activities will be available via the Society’s Facebook page – they include play-doh recipes or gross motor activities for different age groups.