Contact tracing returns to Alberta schools

Alberta Health will once again post COVID-19 cases online when a school has more than two infections effective immediately.

In a reversal of the province’s back-to-school plan, parents whose children are exposed to COVID-19 at school will be contacted by Alberta Health Services, Premier Jason Kenney announced Tuesday afternoon.

Alberta Health will once again post COVID-19 cases online when a school has more than two infections beginning on Wednesday. School authorities will start contact notification on Oct. 12 and AHS will begin contact tracing in November.

Contact tracing involves health officials conducting detailed tracing with potential community contacts, an Alberta Health spokesperson told CTV News Edmonton. "In contact notification, school and health officials will determine contacts for students in the school, and notification focuses on close contacts in the school setting only."

An outbreak will be declared when a school has 10 or more cases within a 14-day period.

In late October, the Alberta government will provide rapid tests to K-6 schools with outbreaks as students under the age of 12 are not eligible to get vaccinated, the province said.

These rapid tests will be voluntary and administered by parents at home.

The province is also “strongly encouraging” school divisions to implement a proof-of-vaccination program, or ask staff to show a negative COVID-19 test.