On Sunday, May 9, 2021, Manitoba Public Health announced that all kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in Winnipeg and Brandon will be moving to remote learning as of Wednesday May 12 until May 30.
“Increased transmission of the variants of concern, increased case numbers in larger centres and rising numbers of cases in younger people means we are moving to remote learning in Winnipeg and Brandon to better protect students, families, teachers and staff,” said Education Minister Cliff Cullen.
Schools in other parts of Manitoba that are remaining open will have additional measures that they will need to follow including:
- schools with multiple cases (outside of same household cases) will be moved proactively to remote learning as per existing guidance;
- school officials can require students and/or staff who are showing symptoms to stay home for 10 days and encourage them to seek testing. Household members without symptoms should also self-isolate (quarantine) until the sick individual’s test result is received;
- all extra-curricular activities, organized sports and off-site activities are suspended, except for physically-distanced walks/runs in the local community;
- no indoor singing and no indoor use of wind instruments will be allowed; and
- all other public health measures will remain in effect.
Cullen noted that schools will be able to accommodate children in K to 6 of critical services workers who are unable to make alternate care arrangements if they are not required to self-isolate. Schools will also accommodate K to grade 12 high-risk and special needs students.
“While schools have done an excellent job protecting staff and students throughout the pandemic, there is a great deal of community transmission at this time, which is impacting our schools. This approach is needed to address community transmission and will support Manitoba’s efforts in moving through and out of the third wave,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer.
Roussin noted that other schools across the province will also move to remote learning if and when the data indicates it is required.
Child care facilities will remain open, including in Winnipeg and Brandon but children who are on remote learning at school should not attend child care before or after school hours. Child care facilities are also required to follow the additional measures the schools outside Winnipeg and Brandon must follow.
© News4.ca 2021
