Schools outside the Avalon region are scheduled to reopen to in-class instruction on Wednesday, March 3.
Dr. Fitzgerald has provided guidance to school boards about measures to be put in place for a safe return to in-class instruction and prevent the spread of the UK variant responsible for the latest outbreak in the metro region.
The variant means the virus is even more easily spread among close groups. At least one school has been directly linked to the latest outbreak.
Fitzgerald says teachers should wear a ‘Level 1’ mask and eye protection at all times when in close contact with students and staff.
All students in grades four and above will be required to wear a mask at all times—except when eating or engaged in physical activity—and they encourage the use of masks at all times whenever possible.
Schools outside of the Avalon will return to scenario one where possible, but some schools will require a different approach.
Enhanced protocols around cohorts and physical distancing are being brought in. Schools, where such an approach is not possible, will operate under scenario two guidelines, which is a mix of in-class and online learning.
A total of 28 schools in Central, 20 in Western, and two in Labrador will operate under scenario two.
Eastern School District CEO Tony Stack describes how that will look. Fifty per cent of the school population will physically attend class on a given day. One week, the students will attend school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the next week they will go on Tuesday and Thursday.