Spread of viruses in Quebec causes thousands of students to miss class - Action News
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Montreal

Spread of viruses in Quebec causes thousands of students to miss class

Educators are bracing themselves for another wave of COVID-19 after some 4,000 students across Quebec missed classes last week because of the virus.

4,000 students missed class the week of Oct. 12

Some 4,000 Quebec students across the province missed classes during the week of Oct. 12. (Jonathon Hayward/The Canadian Press)

Martin Auger, the principal of coleJean-XXIII in Quebec City,says he noticed a jump in student absencesrelated to illness at hiselementary schoolin the last few weeks.

His school is not alone.Some 4,000 Quebec students missed classes during the week of Oct. 12.

The Ministry of Education no longer considers systematically publishing absences related to COVID-19 necessary given the "presence of minimal sanitary measures."

Absences attributed to COVID-19 are difficult to measure, Auger says, because other viruses, such as influenza, gastroenteritis and the respiratory syncytial virus are also spreading.

He added that parents are mainly responsible for testing for COVID-19 and keeping their child at home.

"We rely on parents' frankness, and we want them to be as honest as possible with us, and I think they are," he said.

Adequate ventilation

Ensuring adequate ventilation at his elementary school continues to be a challenge,says Auger who is especially concerned about ventilation with winter around the corner.

The school of about 250 students does not have mechanical ventilation, he says,although the air quality is measured.

"Our only way to refresh the air is to open the windows as much as possible," he said. "This is the recommendation we have."

Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious diseases specialist from the McGill University Health Centre, saidhe's also worried about the resurgence of COVID-19, combined with other viruses, as temperatures drop.

A doctor wearing a mask, blue shirt and dark blazer stands in the bright atrium of a medical research centre.
Dr. Donald Vinh is an infectious diseases specialist from the McGill University Health Centre. (Cedrick Tremblay/CBC)

"We are going to have a Crock-Pot of people locked up in closed spaces, like students and teachers in schools, where there are viruses," Vinh said. "You can't always keep the windows open."

Vinh added that "masking when necessary" can make things better. He believes installing air purifiers in as many classrooms as possible would be beneficial.

Vinh also recommends that both adults and children be up to date with their vaccinations.

The Quebec government recommends a booster dose five months after receiving the last COVID-19 vaccination.

Booster doses are not available for children under five.

with files from Radio-Canada