'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
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.