Sask. Teachers Federation disappointed in lack of provincial restrictions as Omicron cases surge

Schools are still set to open on Jan. 3 and 4, despite a provincial warning on Thursday that Saskatchewan expects a major surge in Omicron variant cases.

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) says it is disappointed the province did not announce any new restrictions to curb the spread of the highly contagious variant.

"This unfortunate decision directly impacts transmission in schools and leaves schools to fend for themselves," the STF tweeted.

Now the organization is asking the province to delay school reopenings for two days until Jan. 5 and 6, in order to prepare for Omicron, says STF president Patrick Maze. 

"We need a day or two to get ready for cohorting and to reorganize our schools," Maze said.

However, the provincial government says it will not delay the start of school.

"Practising preventative measures, such as wearing masks, hand washing, physical distancing, staying home when sick and most importantly, getting vaccinated, have allowed students to safely return to in school learning," spokesperson Matthew Glover wrote in a statement to CBC News.

In another development, Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, says Omicron will spread much more easily than the Delta variant, but that people will not get as sick.

"Omicron is not going to go away in one week or two weeks," he said. "Probably we're going to see a surge, which we will try to keep as low as possible and hopefully it will taper off in by February, March."

Shahab says in-class learning is very important.

"At this point schools should reopen with all the measures they have had in place since last year. Throughout Delta we did really well in terms of schools for the most part stayed open."

There were no vaccinations for children ages five to 11 at that time. 

"At this time, I think we want to open schools next week, stay open, support in-class learning, manage cases and outbreaks while acknowledging Omicron is more transmissible and adjust accordingly."

Shahab says schools will continuously be evaluated as the fifth wave progresses.