Mother worried about inconsistency in sharing important N.B. Public Health info

A recent memo from the province's acting chief medical officer of health to parents has raised concerns about inconsistencies in how the education system handles forwarding Public Health information.

On Jan. 12, Dr. Yves Léger advised parents and guardians about the spread of respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, the flu and RSV, an increase in Group A strep infections, and steps they could take to protect themselves and others and the health-care system.

At least one school district — Anglophone West — forwarded the memo directly to parents right away.

But CBC News has confirmed another district — Francophone North West — waited three days, while others sent it to the schools to send to parents and still can't say for sure if they did.

Miramichi mother Kathleen Gadd says her children's elementary school only posted the memo on Facebook six days later and says some schools still haven't shared it, even though a child under nine has already died from an invasive Group A strep infection this year.

"This is something that really is relevant to every school family. And here's this great communication from the Department of Health, the first direct communication that we've had from the Department of Health since 2022. And they just kind of bobbled it," she said.

It's a stark contrast to the way the school system handled Public Health messaging early in the pandemic, when all parents received information quickly through email and voicemail, according to Gadd.

She thinks the problem stems from the districts. She contends superintendents seem more focused on attendance than health and safety now.

Gadd points to memos from the various superintendents, including one from Anglophone South that suggests students who miss 15 days could be suspended, as well as personal notes sent to parents whose children have missed several days, stressing that "it is very difficult to be successful academically when children are not in class."

It's a problem that should be easy to fix, she said.

"You know, attendance and wellness and illness and hospital capacity are things that every New Brunswicker is aware of right now. We're all worried about it. It's all something that's affecting us.

"And so I think it would be pretty straightforward for the Department of Education to say, 'OK, when we get a formal letter from the Department of Health concerning student health, just like we did in 2020 and 2021, we're going to prioritize communicating that direct message.'"

Asked why forwarding Public Health information appears to be optional and whether that will change, the Department of Education said it followed its "regular process."

Spokesperson Diana Chávez said the memo was sent to the seven superintendents on Jan. 12.