Education
November 4, 2009
Minister Provides Update on Actions at
Schools Regarding the H1N1 Influenza Virus
The Honourable Darin King, Minister of
Education, today provided an update on H1N1 as it
relates to the K-12 school system.
"Parents should remember that the best
way to protect their children and help contain the
spread of H1N1 is proper hygiene," said Minister King.
"Students and their parents should continue to practice
the three Cs � clean, cover and contain. And most
importantly, a student who is displaying flu-like
symptoms should stay at home."
Minister King said that information
packages have been sent to all schools outlining what
teachers, students and parents should do to help contain
the pandemic. These include:
Frequently Asked Questions to
allow principals, teachers and staff to become
knowledgeable about the topic and to assist them in
answering questions from students and parents;
Information brochures for
parents;
Health information posters;
Suggested web-based resources,
including videos; and,
Hand-sanitizers to supplement
hand washing.
The Honourable Jerome Kennedy,
Minister of Health and Community Services, has announced
that vaccination of students from Kindergarten to Grade
3 will begin Thursday, November 5, where possible.
Detailed plans for the in-school immunizations will be
developed by individual regional health authorities.
"The vaccine will be provided to
students in schools wherever it is feasible and
possible," said Minister King. "However, there is
currently a nation-wide shortage of the vaccine.
School-based immunization will be expanded as the supply
of vaccine allows. Parents are encouraged to be patient
and continue to reinforce enhanced hand-washing and
hygiene practices with their children."
As well, Minister King noted that the
Department of Education will continue to provide updated
information on H1N1 as it relates to the school system
on the department�s website at
www.gov.nl.ca/edu.
"We certainly appreciate concerns
parents have about the possible presence of H1N1 in
schools," said Minister King. "However, the
recommendation that is being followed throughout Canada
is to keep schools open. Health officials advise that
this is not a school-based influenza, but a
community-based pandemic. Closing schools will not
contain the spread of the virus. At the same time, we
are prepared to make any necessary changes to these
plans depending on information we are receiving on a
daily basis.";
Minister King stated that as part of
the monitoring of potential H1N1 effects on school
communities, school districts and the Department of
Education are tracking absentee rates school by school
daily. While some schools are recording an increase in
absentee rates, improvements in attendance levels are
being recorded in others.
"School districts have plans in place
to help ensure learning continues despite absences or
possible loss of instructional time if students are
absent for extended periods of time," said Minister
King. "This includes the preparation of on-line support
materials and unit plans for home study. For public exam
courses, there are resources available through the
Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation that all
students may access and I encourage people to contact
their local schools about these resources if their child
is away for an extended time."
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