Nova Scotia’s top doctor defends keeping schools open despite ongoing COVID-19 exposures

'We're watching for widespread infections and we have not seen that in a school, not even in a classroom,' said Dr. Robert Strang.

During a COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Nova Scotia’s top doctor said there is no reason to shut down any school in the province due to COVID-19 cases.

His comments follow calls from parents at Duc d’Anville to close the school due to a number of recent exposure notices.

Since Sept. 20, parents have received eight exposure notices for the school, six of which have come in the last week.

“Just because of how many cases there are right now, I would like to see the school closed for at least a week,” said Elizabeth Webb, whose son is in grade primary.

“We are all very genuinely concerned about the COVID cases within the school.”

Webb says while the exact number of cases is unknown, she and a group of moms have identified at least nine classes that have had an exposure.

While the school remains, open the surge in exposures is having an impact on attendance. Last Friday, nearly 50 per cent of students were absent, and so far this week still over a quarter of students are away.

On Wednesday, chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang addressed the ongoing concern parents have about their kids in elementary schools.