If a resurgence of COVID-19 forces a closure of classrooms in the fall, parents are being cautioned by B.C.B次元官网网址檚 premier to have a backup plan in place.

As it stands, the goal is to have a full return to classrooms for students in elementary and middle schools in September with alternative options for secondary school students.

However, this plan could be foiled if B.C. sees a second wave of the novel coronavirus B次元官网网址� a likelihood health officials are not ruling out, backed by how other contagions have transmitted through populations historically.

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While itB次元官网网址檚 unclear exactly when another wave could occur, the fall and winter seasons already see an increase in respiratory illnesses which could lead to a surge in coronavirus cases.

During a weekly news conference on Thursday (July 23), Horgan told reporters that the province will have more information for parents in the weeks to come and the pandemic is being closely monitored by school administrators and provincial officials.

WATCH: Premier John Horgan takes questions from journalists on July 23, 2020

B次元官网网址淢y plan is to make sure we get it right, not that we get it done by a certain time,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 unreasonable to ask parents to be patient.

Schools in B.C. shuttered doors in March as daily case counts began to increase, requiring parents to home-school their kids. Many struggled to balance working from home with helping their children finish the school year.

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Meanwhile, teachers had to quickly adapt lesson plans to rely on online assignments and virtual teaching.

The province moved to a hybrid model in June, blending voluntary in-classroom and online curriculum.

Education Minister Rob Fleming said earlier this week that officials are looking into safe options in the fall, such as a B次元官网网址渃ohortB次元官网网址� model to meet social distancing requirements.

B次元官网网址淥f course, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a B次元官网网址榥ew normalB次元官网网址� situation, schools will look different,B次元官网网址� he said in the legislature on Wednesday.

Mandatory masks unlikely for kids, says B.C.B次元官网网址檚 top doc

While Fleming suggested that masks could be a safety protocol in classrooms, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 provincial health officer has said that making face coverings mandatory for young students isnB次元官网网址檛 likely.

B次元官网网址淲e know from the evidence around the world that thatB次元官网网址檚 not needed, but that there are other ways B次元官网网址� important ways B次元官网网址� of being able to learn in classroom for younger children, and children of all ages, that can be done safely,B次元官网网址� Henry said in a separate news conference.

B次元官网网址淢asks for a long period of time are not recommended by anybody in any situation B次元官网网址� we know thatB次元官网网址檚 not what keeps people safe.B次元官网网址�

Henry said that keeping a distance of two metres from one another, using barriers for separation and proper hygiene are the best methods to reduce virus spread.

Masks could still be made mandatory for teachers.

Fleming, joined by Henry, is expected to offer a back-to-school update next week.

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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