Return-to-school decisions still not so clearcut because of COVID cases

As a woman with quadriplegia, Emily Silva says her lungs aren't as strong as other people's.

Her youngest daughter will head into her first year of high school this fall. Silva doesn't want to keep her home and have her miss out on forming important social connections, although she can't help but worry about what will happen if COVID-19 finds its way into their home.

Silva and her family live in Woodstock. They're careful; they don't go out to eat, and they still wear masks. In 2020, long before children could get vaccinated, Silva pulled her youngest daughter out of school, sending her back in the 2021-22 year after she'd been vaccinated.

Two years later, and even with vaccines, Silva once again feels anxious about sending her daughter to school, especially without having more updated information from the province about COVID-19 cases and what parents should expect for the school year ahead.

"I'm pretty apprehensive," she said. "There seems to be absolutely no precautions."

Silva said she doesn't expect the province to bring back a mask mandate, but she'd like more information about what back to school is going to be like. Some precautions could include teachers keeping a box of masks on hand for students who have symptoms, or providing rapid tests for kids who feel sick.

She'd also like to know what vaccination statistics are like for kids in her daughter's age group, and especially third dose numbers. A vaccination campaign before school starts would also help put her mind at ease, she said.

"We don't have information or tools to judge our risk or reduce our risk," she said.

The Department of Education told CBC News that unless Public Health implements new policies, students will return to school in September the way they left them in June.

The department also said that 87.3 per cent of children aged 12 to 19 years had their first dose as of July 19, while 81.9 per cent had their second dose. 

The department also said that 87.3 per cent of children aged 12 to 19 years had their first dose as of July 19, while 81.9 per cent had their second dose. 

The spokesperson said 56.7 per cent of children aged five to 11 years had their first dose as of July 19, while 40.1 per cent have had their second dose.

The province did promise to install new ventilation systems in 11 schools this year. According to the Department of Education, 10 of those projects are now underway, while one has been delayed until next year.

Silva feels frustrated because, as a person who's already spent years feeling restricted because of being in a wheelchair, she feels she's being restricted all over again; only this time, no one cares.