Lots of students and teachers in northeast schools and across the province are calling in sick.  (File photo/CKOM)

By Doug Lett

Many students sick

Students and staff at many northeast schools getting sick

Nov 18, 2022 | 1:23 PM

It seems there are higher numbers of kids falling ill in smaller communities, as well as the province’s larger cities.

“We definitely notice in most of our communities that we have some high rates of absenteeism currently,” said Stacy Lair, Education director for the North East School division.

The division has 22 schools in 13 communities, including Nipawin, Hudson Bay, Tisdale and Melfort. There are just under 5,000 students.

“And the other thing that we’re noticing is it’s a little bit more sustained in terms of length of time that our students are away,” said Lair. “It just seems to be a while for them to be able to feel better.”

Lair did not have exact numbers but said it is definitely more than usual.

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“I think there’s a combination of things happening and different bugs going around,” she said. “I doubt if there’s a community that hasn’t been touched by this.”

Lair said staff are also being affected, and it’s especially hard on areas where they don’t have a lot of subs to call on – such as caretakers and bus drivers.

“If they’re short and have no replacement for a bus driver, that puts the responsibility back to parents and makes it difficult and taxing for families,” said Lair. “Sometimes they just can’t accommodate those needs to transport their own.”

The Saskatchewan Teachers Federation said high rates of absenteeism are being reported across the province.

“In the last couple of weeks it’s been more concerning as we have had some schools where up to a third of the class might be missing,” said STF President Samantha Becotte. “Teachers and staff are missing too, which is having an impact on classes, because sometimes there aren’t substitute teachers to replace them.”

Becotte said the STF is hoping people stay home when sick, to avoid spreading illness. The STF is also calling on schools to follow the SHA guidelines on practicing good hygiene to reduce the spread.

Earlier this week the Ministry of Health warned it could be a difficult year for influenza.

The latest Community Respiratory Influenza Surveillance Program, or CRISP, found influenza numbers have tripled, and 61 per cent of the new cases are between 0 and 19 years of age.

Hospitalizations because of influenza have also risen according to the reported numbers up to Nov. 5th.

At the same time, reported COVID-19 cases have dropped. However, the 164 people hospitalized for COVID is still significantly higher than the 16 admitted to hospital for influenza between October 30 to November 5, the latest week for which CRISP numbers are available.

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doug.lett@pattisonmedia.com