With outbreaks on the rise in Alberta schools, some parents want health measures back

A growing number of respiratory illness outbreaks in Edmonton-area schools is prompting some parents to say schools should take more infection prevention measures – at least for a couple of weeks.

As of Friday, Edmonton's two largest school boards reported nearly 17,000 students were absent, including 10 per cent of public school students and 13 per cent of Catholic pupils.

At Edmonton Public Schools, 33 of 213 schools saw more than 15 per cent of their students absent on Friday. According to data posted on the division's website, three schools were missing more than 25 per cent of students.

Schools in Alberta Health Services' Edmonton zone, which extends beyond city limits, had recorded 65 schools with a recorded respiratory illness outbreak late last week, according to AHS spokesperson Kerry Williamson.

The Calgary zone had 14 schools with outbreaks, the north zone had 12, there were five in the central zone and the south zone had two.

"It's extremely scary," said Pam Puri, whose youngest child, age 10, is immunocompromised. "I wish that we could bring masking back into the schools."

Five years ago, a respiratory infection landed her daughter in the pediatric intensive care unit for about 10 days.

Puri said even a mask mandate in place for a couple of weeks to ride out this viral wave could help protect her daughter and other vulnerable children.

Last month, her daughter missed two weeks of school due to illness. Puri doesn't want to pull her daughter from the classroom in Edmonton, but she wonders if she should.

It's unclear what steps Alberta schools or boards could take now Premier Danielle Smith has said she plans to prevent schools from ever bringing back mask mandates.

In a letter to parents Monday, Edmonton Catholic Schools superintendent Robert Martin says moving some classes or schools online is a possibility.

"While maintaining in-person learning is our priority, it may be necessary to shift individual classes or grades to online learning as required due to operational challenges," the letter says.

Such moves have, in the past, required permission from Alberta's education minister.

AHS declares an outbreak when more than 10 per cent of the students are absent due to respiratory illness. The letters home to parents do not say whether the cause is COVID-19 or something else.