Parents group says COVID-19 exposure notifications for N.S. schools lack transparency

A group of Nova Scotia parents is expressing concern over how the provincial government issues COVID-19 exposure notifications for schools, saying the process lacks transparency and causes anxiety.

Information about confirmed COVID-19 cases in school settings used to be posted publicly on the Department of Education website.

But with high vaccination rates, evolving epidemiology and schools no longer closing due to a single case as they were last year, staff and families are now being notified of an exposure in writing as part of a six-step process. 

Once it is determined who was in close contact with the person who tested positive, a separate letter is prepared for the school to send to close contacts only. 

Public Health's direction for the self-isolation of close contacts is based on vaccination status. Students who are fully vaccinated do not need to self-isolate and can continue with regular school activities if they do not have symptoms.

Because of the change in policy, a Facebook group with 19,000 members has taken matters into its own hands, compiling its own list of schools where exposures have been confirmed via a letter.

Stacey Rudderham, an administrator of the group called Nova Scotia Parents for Public Education, said parents are struggling to understand why the province is not posting confirmed school cases publicly online like last year.