Pupils return from Italy directives in regions differ

A group of students from Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay is back home from a trip to Italy since Friday, March 6. In the absence of symptoms, the pupils can attend the school even though they visited the European country, the one most affected by the coronavirus epidemic. A group from a Shawinigan school, also back from Italy, received a different directive to follow voluntary isolation at home. Rob Buttars, director of the New Frontiers School Board, said on Tuesday March 10th  he followed the instructions from the same public health people. The students concerned were informed that if they presented symptoms which appear to be those of COVID-19  to stay home and contact Info-Sante at 811. “These are the same measures for everyone,” Buttars said. “During the March break week, there are a lot of people who travel to many places.” The Chateauguay pupils who participated in the trip changed their itinerary before departure to avoid Northern Italy which was in confinement due to the high number of COVID-19 cases. This measure of confinement was however spread to the whole country on Monday, March 10, after the return of the students. In a communique published on March 8, the Quebec Health Minister did not recommend the systemic isolation to people returning from a trip to Italy but underlined that it was important to be attentive to their state of health. “It is asked that they watch for symptoms compatible with COVID-19, such as fever, coughing and breathing difficulties, for a 14-day period beginning with the date when they return to Canada,” the communique stressed. Cogeco Media reported on the 98.5 airwaves that College St. Paul in Varennes had issued the same directives of prevention as Chateauguay. Voluntary isolation in other schools At Val-Mauricie Secondary School in Shawinigan, the health authorities issued the recommendation to stay home for 14 days to a group of students returning from Italy even if they had not visited some sectors which were considered a risk, according to a Radio-Canada report. The head of the Mauricie and Quebec Centre public health facility justifies this preventive recommendation due to the speed of the spreading of the virus and “the high number of persons who will mingle with the youngsters” upon their return to school. A polyvalent from Beauce sent home its pupils from a trip to Italy before the scheduled end of their stay.They also received a recommendation of voluntary isolation at home. In a letter sent to parents, the New Frontiers School Board indicates having reinforced the frequency of cleaning some surfaces such as doorknobs and stair ramps in its establishments. On Tuesday, March 10 at 11 a.m., the Monteregie West Health and Social Services Centre confirmed that all the COVID-19 tests made on its territory turned out negative. (Translation Dan Rosenburg)