Things are changing due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and schools are not untouched by it. The English Montreal School Board has outlined a back-to-school plan for January and shared that schools will be closed for a few days more.
It was also highlighted that emergency daycares
for elementary students would be open, and priority will be given to parents working
in any essential service sectors like healthcare if they provide proof.
Sending a memo to parents, the EMSB stated that
the elementary, high school, and adult sector students should take part in
online schooling from Jan 6th to Jan 14th, 2022. The only
exceptions are Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton special education schools.
Those institutions will resume in-person teaching on Jan 6th, 2022.
The students are expected to return to in-person
classes on Jan 17th, 2022, unless the government announces new
plans.
All students will return to in-person classes
on Jan 17th unless the government announces otherwise.
The letter said, “Parents are asked to keep
their children at home, and in very exceptional circumstances, they can reach
out to the school principal. Schools with private daycares will provide the
specifics concerning the service offered to their families.”
This move is smart given the fact that the
COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly. Over 17,000 new cases were reported in
Quebec on New Year’s Day, and it was the fifth straight day that a record
number of new infections were reported in the province. Around twelve more
deaths linked to COVID-19 were also reported.
Quebec residents also had to ring in the new
year according to the guidelines of a provincewide curfew. The rules took
effect from Friday and required everyone to be home by 10 PM and stay at home
till 5 AM. There were only a few exceptions, like essential workers traveling
to and from work.
Police officers have been enforcing the curfew
and charging fines ranging from $1000 to $6000. Even teenagers over the age of fourteen
are liable to pay a fine of $500 if they break the curfew. Exemptions include
homeless people, those who are visiting a sick patient, and those visiting a
pharmacy to get medications, among others.
Gatherings are banned, and people who live alone
are allowed to visit another family bubble with their children. As per new
rules, people can also visit a loved one to provide care.
All the restaurants are instructed to close the
dining rooms, but they can go on with takeout and delivery. All cinemas, bars,
cinemas, taverns, and casinos are closed. Stores are allowed to operate at 50%
capacity.
In addition to high school and elementary
school students, universities and colleges will also need to continue with distanced
learning until Jan 17th. The only exceptions are a few classes that require
students to be in person.
These new measures look like a wise move as the
number of cases is on the rise. Click here
for more.
To know what else the government is doing to prevent
the rapid spread of COVID, click here.
Sources:
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/emsb-outlines-back-to-school-plan-for-january
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/quebec-ontario-and-n-l-begin-2022-with-record-covid-19-cases-1.5725329
https://montrealgazette.com/news/covid-19-here-are-the-new-restrictions-in-quebec