A late change to provincial physical distancing orders in schools caused unnecessary confusion for stressed-out parents, said one local school trustee.
Joe Becigneul, trustee and former chair of the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional School Division, said the move caused angst among parents.
“It is a little bit disturbing that things are done in that method, like on a weekend before school is about to start with all of the angst that parents have going on through their minds,” Becigneul said.
Over the last weekend, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, signed a health order that stated schools do not need to enforce physical distancing when students are in the classroom. In a press conference on Monday, Hinshaw said the move is in line with earlier guidance on the issue.
The order signed on Saturday, just two days before the school year started in St. Albert, said “an operator of a school does not need to ensure that students, staff members, and visitors are able to maintain a minimum of 2 metres distance from every other person when a student, staff member or visitor is seated at a desk or table.”
Hinshaw said the government heard there was some confusion about its masking guidance documents and the order was meant to clarify the rules around mask-wearing. But the new order doesn’t change the rules around wearing masks in schools – students will not need to wear masks while sitting in their desks, as long as they are as far apart as possible and not facing each other.
Becigneul said the order doesn’t change any of the plans the school board has in place and they are doing everything possible to ensure there is physical distancing in the schools and kids are wearing masks when required.
The trustee said some students are even choosing to wear masks while seated in the classroom for extra protection, although it is not required.
In August, the government announced all students in grades four to 12 must wear masks in common areas, like hallways and buses.
On Monday during a press conference, Hinshaw apologized for any confusion and stress the order may have caused Albertans.
“I am very sorry for the anxiety and confusion that this order has sparked. This timing is not meant to hide information. Ironically, it was meant to be transparent. I understand the concerns, especially as we all move forward quickly,” Hinshaw said.
The top doctor said moving forward she will be posting future orders Monday through Thursday and will share them on social media once they have been posted.
