'Have to ride this out': Illnesses continues to affect school attendance
The Calgary Board of Education said Monday that more than 10,000 of its students were out of class with some sort of illness.
That’s equivalent to about eight percent.
Stephanie Van Lissum says her daughter, who is in Grade 7 at McKenzie Highlands School, contracted COVID-19 just a couple of weeks ago.
Although she is a stay-at-home mom, she says her daughter had to stay home for 10 days.
“It’s still tough,” she said.
“She got it and I knew I was going to get it. Sure enough, a week later, so I’m trying to take care of her as a single mom, and myself as well.”
But schools are seeing absences due to RSV, the flu, common cold and COVID-19.
Any school with more than a 10 per cent absentee rate must report it to Alberta Health Services for investigation.
Calgary Catholic School District says 26 of its schools are in outbreak, or 22 per cent.
Public health physician Dr. Jia Hu says keeping kids updated on vaccinations can drastically reduce any serious outcomes.
“Influenza right now is a straight line upwards, so growing quite quite quickly,” he said.
Hu adds that updated vaccinations and mask wearing will help reduce spread, but will be difficult to change the course of the triple threat of viruses ripping through schools.
“I don’t necessarily know if all these things will affect overall absenteeism rates,” he said.
“The vaccination will certainly prevent people form landing in hospitals which is the most important thing, but we will have to ride this out for a few more weeks for sure, months probably.”
For dad Billy Stewart, he says his family takes extra precautions from catching any sickness.
“We’re trying to very careful, I’m immuno-compromised,” he said.
“(My son) missed enough school, we don’t want him to miss anymore, and fall behind, anything like that.”
McKenzie Highlands School reported more than a 13 per cent absentee rate on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.