Some students continue with online learning in Algoma
As a majority of students return to in-class learning this week, several parents with children attending public schools in Algoma District are opting for online instruction.
This comes as immunization rates for elementary and secondary students continue to climb.
Officials at Algoma District School Board said online learning will remain an option until Feb. 4 for elementary students and until the end of the current semester for high schoolers.
Board chair Jennifer Sarlo said a similar number of students in elementary and high school are learning from home.
"We have 9.7 per cent of our elementary students deciding to stay at home with virtual learning," said Sarlo.
"For our secondary students, we have just over 10 per cent -- 10.3 per cent -- of our secondary students have chosen virtual learning."
Sarlo said the board was able to procure masks and HEPA filters for schools in the days before reopening to in-class learning.
"Our plant department had to work pretty hard to get all that distributed throughout all our schools, but we're really thankful we were able to get that ahead of time," said Sarlo.
Algoma Public Health's director of immunization said more than half of students ages 5-17 have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
"In Algoma, children aged five to 11 years old have a 54 per cent coverage rate for COVID-19 paediatric vaccination," said Roylene Bowden. "Those who are aged 12 to 17, we are at an 83 per cent coverage rate."
Bowden said the health unit may adopt a more targeted approach to vaccinations in schools.
"As we continue through and offer both appointment and walk-in clinic opportunities, we'll look at those coverage rates and take a more targeted approach to some of the schools that may need a little more on-site assistance with immunization coverage," she said.
Bowden said they are planning an immunization blitz to correspond with the Feb. 4 PD day. She said second doses of COVID-19 vaccine are expected to be administered to school-aged children starting this week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.