'The numbers are out of control': Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation calls for universal masking, vaccine policies in schools
With COVID-19 case numbers in children under 12 increasing, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation is calling for universal masking and vaccination policies in schools.
The province reported 104 new cases in the zero to 11 age group on Wednesday, with 101 reported the previous day, and the STF said this will continue unless something is changed.
“We still have some school divisions where masking is optional, especially at the high school level, and that’s just unacceptable,” said Patrick Maze, president of STF.
He said the STF is frustrated with the inconsistencies seen in the approach to the virus, with the isolation and masking rules changing depending on where a student is exposed.
“Clearly the high number of students who are contracting COVID-19 under the age of 11 is an indication that what we’re doing isn’t working,” said Maze. “The government restrictions aren’t going far enough and our children are being put at risk due to that.”
He said the two ways to improve safety in schools is a universal masking policy and a having everyone who is eligible for a vaccination required to do so.
“We need to make sure that we get out vaccine numbers up and the way to do that, asking people to do it isn’t working, we need stricter enforcement,” said Maze.
“I think we need to understand the numbers are out of control and we need to get serious about this.”
Safe Schools Saskatchewan is supporting Maze calling for the same change in policy.
Margi Corbett, one of the administrators of the Facebook group and a retired teacher, said their biggest concern is the “mismatch” of communication and difficult to follow guidelines.
Corbett said the “illogical” isolation and masking rules are hard to enforce by principals. For example, she said, a child who is deemed a close contact can attend class, but not participate in extra curricular activities.
She said she is hearing teachers are confused, frustrated and exhausted.
“They’re protecting our kids heroically, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with the fact that the kids are endangered every day,” said Corbett, adding this danger can come home with them to immunocompromised and elderly family members.
Corbett is also a concerned grandmother and is grateful for the work teachers and daycare providers are doing.
Some daycares in the province have re-instated a masking policy in the recent days.
“We think that the more kids we can keep healthy, keep our staff teams healthy and the community, in a sense, the better chance we’ll have that we’re not going to have closures or partial closures to centres and more kids becoming sick and us not being able to provide care,” said Steve Compton, CEO at the YMCA of Regina.
The YMCA decided Tuesday to bring masks back for its staff and children in its childcare centre, as well as the before and after school programs, including those run in partner schools.
The YMCA is also encouraging those who are eligible to get vaccinated.
The ministers of education and health could not be reached for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.