Public health officials are introducing new measures for schools in both the Winnipeg and Northern Health regions, in response to rising COVID-19 case numbers in those areas.
On Thursday, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced the new measures — which he says will go into effect as of Monday, October 26:
• Schools must ensure two metres of physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, and adjust classroom space as necessary; excess furniture must be removed from classrooms to create additional space; and other spaces within schools must be repurposed to accommodate more distancing (e.g., multipurpose rooms, empty rooms, shared spaces, common areas and libraries).
• Extracurricular activities are only permitted if all learning and distancing requirements have been met. If these activities continue, established guidelines must be followed and, in the case of sports, participants should maintain distance when not active.
• Teachers and staff who move across cohorts of students, including substitute teachers, are required to wear medical masks. Medical-grade disposable masks have been issued to all schools. N95 masks are not required.
• Indoor choir and the use of wind instruments are not permitted.
• All field trips must be postponed or cancelled.
• Blended learning (in-class and online) for grades 9 to 12 where distancing cannot be achieved will continue as per status quo.
• Kindergarten to Grade 8 students may be offered a temporary remote learning option for the duration of the Restricted level (orange).
These measures beginning next week are only for schools in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and the Northern health regions.
