(Photo: GNB YouTube)
The province’s chief medical health officer is hoping to ease parents’ stress around back to school by answering some of their questions.
In a recent Q and A, Dr. Jennifer Russell explained why health officials are considering not informing all staff and students if there’s an outbreak.
“Our process is that public health would inform the school via the principal and then the school administration would communicate that with parents and the school community, just like chicken pox, the measles or whooping cough,” she says.
Russell says student and personnel may become very anxious if there’s a positive test result and that protection of privacy will remain a priority.
She says the individual in question may feel ashamed or stigmatized, which could impact their mental health and reminded everyone to be kind to each other.
Russell was asked whether children could be tested without parental consent.
“Testing a student for COVID-19 would not be permitted without the parent’s consent, that would be to their discretion. However, if a parent decided not to proceed with having a child tested for COVID-19 then public health may require them to stay home for 14 days, which is the incubation period for COVID-19,” she says.
Russell also provided some tips on school drop off, since many children have opted out of taking the school bus which may cause an increase in traffic.
She suggested parents of older kids drop them off within walking distance to the school and is asking employers to be flexible, especially during the first few weeks.
Other questions included how to talk to kids about wearing a mask.
“Use really simple language in terms of explaining to them why they should wear them, help them get used to wearing them, give them your support and answer their questions. Also parents can make sure that they teach them how to put them on and take them off safely by washing their hands before and after,” says Russell.
Russell also recommended that masks should be stored in plastic bags while not in use to prevent them from collecting germs.
You can catch the full session below.
