As a second wave of the H1N1 virus is expected to hit Canada, local schools and institutions are gearing up for what health officials believe may be especially challenging weeks.
“We cannot say for certain what this fall may bring, but we expect these coming weeks to be especially challenging,” says Ottawa’s medical officer Dr. Isra Levy in his H1N1 update to city council last week.
With reports of flu like symptoms hitting some students at St. Leonard Catholic School in Manotick, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and public health officials say they are as ready as can be for any possible pandemic. In preparation, the school board says it’s taking every step to ensure that its schools are well prepared. This includes setting up a special Pandemic Operations Committee, POC, which will oversee the daily operations of the 150 schools in the district.
The committee, in consultation with the director’s executive council, public officials and other appropriate agencies, will be responsible for determining the processes the schools will follow, including possible school closures.
“Each of the schools in the district is being cautious at this time,” says Harvey Scott, the principal at Glashan Public School. “If and when we may have to shut our doors, we will only be following the directives of the board.”
Across Centretown, school principals are asked to wait just a little longer for further directives. In the meantime, Scott says his school – as with all the other schools in the area, including Lisgar Collegiate Institute and Immaculata High School – are taking the same directives given by public health officials.
“We are required to teach our students the basics at this level, and that is washing the hands regularly, sneezing into sleeves and that sort of preventive measures.” A message reiterated by Levy.
Levy said a 10-per-cent student absentee threshold that may raise concern have not been reached by any of the schools. And although an increase might be alarming, it is not necessarily reflections of swine flu activity.
In response to the idea of shutting down schools, Levy indicated that it might not be the best choice.
“It’s always prudent to have the ability to take measures and I think it’s wise that they are considering that,” he says. “However, we in Ontario do not think it’s going to be called for.”
Although the POC has not been set up, it would consist of key board members including the executive superintendent, executive officer and the manager of communications and information services. For now, the OCDSB says it has modified its cleaning and disinfecting routines by providing schools with extra hand sanitizers and increasing cleaning routines acting on advice given by Ottawa Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
In addition, director of education Lyall Thomson says every possibility would be considered. “The board’s priority during any type of increased severity will be to keep schools open and to provide a healthy learning and working environment for all.”