COVID-19: New Brunswick students prepare to transition to online learning for 2 weeks – New Brunswick

New Brunswick students prepare to transition to online learning for at least two weeks, as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the province.

Education Minister Dominic Cardy made the announcement on Friday.

Originally, students were scheduled to return to class on January 10, but with the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and the Omicron being highly transmissible, the ministry has changed course.

“We looked forward to welcoming students back into face-to-face learning in K-12 schools across our province on January 10. Unfortunately, the situation has changed and the circumstances have changed, ”Dominic Cardy said on December 31st.

“In light of the current situation with the Omicron variant, students will learn at home, from January 11 to at least Friday January 21, and this decision will be re-evaluated the week of January 17. “

Cardy has made it clear in previous interviews that switching to online learning is not ideal due to the implications it has for student mental health and access to resources.

“This will have an impact on our at-risk and vulnerable students, so we will work with schools to determine what supports we may be able to provide, so that affected students and families have more information next week,” did he declare. .

Since the beginning of September, 193 schools have been affected by COVID-19. There were 897 school-related cases.

Cardy encouraged students who received rapid test kits to reserve them while a return-to-school date is determined.

If you’re symptomatic, Cardy said, save them.

The kits were in great demand. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced on Friday that more kits would be delivered to the province in the coming weeks.

“Please do not use these kits unless you become symptomatic until we have a confirmed return to school date. I appreciate that everyone has these kits. Keep them warm, keep them safe at home, please don’t use these school kits until we have a confirmed back-to-school date for in-person learning, ”Cardy said.