Full classrooms of students come September unlikely: Roumeliotis

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis speaks to reporters during his daily briefing on Friday, June 19, 2020. Roumeliotis believes it's unlikely schools this fall will have full classrooms like we saw before the coronavirus pandemic. (EOHU/Zoom via Newswatch Group)

SD&G – The region’s medical officer of health believes the start of school in September won’t be full in-class instruction like we saw prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The province announced last week that school boards need to come up with a plan under three scenarios this fall: in-class instruction as normal; a blend of both in-class with limited numbers on a rotation; home instruction and online learning full-time. Under the rotation model, classrooms would be limited to a “cohort” of 15 students with an instructor.

“I’m already in discussion with some of our school boards looking at some of the options, looking at some of the preparations that need to be done. My suspicion is that we’re likely going to end up in the middle scenario. I don’t see going back to school full pin (sic) an option. Again, that may change depending on the numbers (of infections),” Dr. Paul Roumeliotis told reporters Friday.

The doctor added that no decision has been made and it will depend on the level of infection by late August.

The decision rests with the local public health unit working with the local school boards.