Education Minister Cliff Cullen and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin held a news conference Thursday afternoon regarding the Safe Return to School Plan for Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Cullen announced that students would return to classrooms on Sept. 7:
“We are pleased to have all students and staff returning to full-time in-class learning while continuing to follow recommended public health fundamentals. We know that students learn best in the classroom, and the return to school plan will help to ensure schools stay open and adjust with additional measures, as needed, to address changes in local community or school situations.”
Students and school staff will be expected to follow the COVID-safe basics, such as self-screening, hand hygiene and staying home when sick. Masks are recommended for all students, staff and visitors but not required.
Notifications of new COVID-19 cases in schools will continue, and the public dashboard will resume in September, said Dr. Brent Roussin.
“I support this reopening school plan. Studies show that children are less likely to transmit COVID-19 at home, in school or in community settings and at lower risk of severe illness from COVID-19. There are significant benefits to their learning and overall well-being from the in-person interaction and extracurricular activities they get at school. The strong determination of Manitobans has helped limit the spread of the virus. This has resulted in a reduction in overall case numbers, community transmission and test positivity rates. The strain on our health care system continues to decline as vaccination rates continue to increase.”
About two-thirds of those aged 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and about 52 percent have received both doses.
Public health and education officials are planning to ensure young people can catch up on essential immunizations that have been delayed due to the pandemic, such as HPV, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, and tetanus-diphtheria and pertussis. Details will be shared with parents, students and school communities as soon as possible.
Public health officials are also recommending changes to classroom sizes for child care facilities to increase from 30 to 48 children, plus staff. In addition, physical distancing within a classroom is no longer required.
Funds dedicated to helping and protecting students include:
$40 million for additional staffing, learning and technology, and health and safety.
$6 million for masks and personal protective equipment.
$5 million for the Kindergarten to Grade 8 Remote Learning Support Centre for immunocompromised students and $2 million in contingency funding.
