EDMONTON — Alberta is planning to reopen schools this fall even as cases of COVID-19 in the province continue to grow.
Premier Jason Kenney said experience in other jurisdictions, as well as with pilot projects in summer schools, suggests that kindergarten to Grade 12 classes can resume safely.
"There is a growing recognition of the serious negative long-term social economic impact of keeping schools closed indefinitely," he said Tuesday.
"This does not mean there will be no cases in schools. It means we have calculated the relative risks of reopening against the risks of continued closures."
The plan came as Alberta's chief medical officer of health reported another 141 new cases of COVID-19. The province has reported more than 100 new cases on four of the last five days and infections are trending upwards.
Still, Dr. Deena Hinshaw said reopening schools is the right move.
"There is no risk-free approach to living with COVID-19. We still have to learn to live with it."
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange outlined safety protocols for three scenarios.
Schools with no outbreak will rely on measures such as hand sanitizers at school and classroom entrances, more frequent cleaning, grouping students into cohorts to reduce contact and planning the school day to allow physical distancing.
Students and teachers will be required to stay home if sick. Mask wearing will be optional.
Those measures will be tightened if an outbreak occurs. Others may be added, such as reducing class sizes to 20.
"Our school days will look mostly the same," she said.
Barry Litun of the College of Alberta School Superintendents said much will depend on the ability of families and school staff to keep COVID-19 out to begin with.
"The key to the success of in-school classes will be the co-operation of school staff and families to diligently screen for any symptoms and stay at home if ill."
Education officials will release screening protocols and detailed re-entry plans closer to the reopening date, he said. Plans will vary between schools.
Litun said some schools have announced plans for extra cleaning staff. Others will remove water fountains and replace them with bottle-filling stations.
Some schools will stagger class times to reduce the number of students in the halls at any one time. Others will designate doors as entrance- or exit-only.
LaGrange said schools are able to use a province-wide fund of $250 million for capital spending on COVID-19 adaptations.
British Columbia has already announced schools will reopen in September. The province already allowed students to return to class for a brief time in June.
Nova Scotia is reopening its schools in September, as is Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and all three territories.
Ontario has said returning to school in the fall will be voluntary and based on parent choice. School boards will be expected to provide distance learning for those who don't attend.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2020.
Bob Weber, The Canadian Press
