(January 21, 2022) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister of Education and MHA for Conception Bay South, today called upon government to release analysis by Dr. Proton Rahman on projected school infection rates among students, teachers and staff when school reopens Tuesday.

Petten says his office has been flooded with calls and emails from concerned parents, teachers and school staff since government announced a return date yesterday. Many parents note children ages 5-11 have not had their second shot of the COVID 19 vaccine because the required eight weeks has not passed since their first dose. Petten fears many will not send their children to school next week and government has refused to provide an online option.

“Children will have new cohorts starting next week, including the bus ride and class. Many have other brothers and sisters in school and parents and even grandparents in their tight 10. I would assume government has had Dr. Rahman and the analytics team complete modelling on infection spread and transmission rates among students and the entire school community,” said Petten.

“Parents and the public at large deserve to see this information. Government needs to release it immediately.”
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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca