More Winnipeg schools shift to online learning as COVID-19 cases climb

MoreWinnipeg schools are movingto remote learning starting on Monday, facing agrowing number of COVID-19 cases and staff absences because of self-isolation requirements.

Collge Jeanne-Sauv and Lavallee School in the Louis Riel School Division are both transitioning to learning from home starting May 3, the division announced on Friday.

Lavallee School students could return to in-school learning as early as May 10, and those Collge Jeanne-Sauv could resume in-school learning as early as May 17.

Louis Riel School Division superintendent Christian Michalik said in a letter to parents the decision was made because of the growing number of cases and contacts.

WATCH:167 Manitoba schools report having students or staff with COVID:

More Winnipeg schools shift to online learning as COVID-19 cases climb

3 years ago

Duration 2:25

More Winnipeg schools are moving to remote learning starting on Monday, facing a growing number of COVID-19 cases and staff absences because of self-isolation requirements.

In addition to staff on leave to self-isolate, a growing number of students were alreadybeing kept home by their parents, the letter said.

Staffing couldbecome unsustainablewithout a remote learning period, Michalik's letter said.

As of Friday there were 428 staff absences across the school division, and 111 of the absences were not filled, he wrote.

The school division's website saysthere are 75 close contacts associated with various cases at Lavallee School, and 20 contacts associated with cases at Collge Jeanne-Sauv.

Another school in the division,cole Marie-Anne Gaboury, moved to remote learning lastMonday, after more than a quarter of the school's student populationwasrequired to self-isolate at home due to potential exposure.

South Pointe School in the Pembina Trails School Division also announced earlier this week that it willmove to remotelearning as of Monday.

The decision was made to minimize community transmission and prevent staffing shortages due to self-isolation requirements, the school's website says.

Dr. Jazz Atwal, Manitoba's acting deputy chief public health officer, said Friday that the province will not move to close schools right now, although some teachers have called for that.

A full shift to remote learning couldhave unintended effects on students, Atwal said.

"That has a negative impact on youth and child and development, on education. And for a lot of people, school is one of the safest and best places to be."

In the two-week period leading up to April 28, there were416 COVID-19 cases in Manitoba schoolsinvolving students and staff, including 171 involving more contagious coronavirus variants, provincial data says.