A New Petition Asks The QC Government To Keep School Online Until COVID-19 Cases Go Down

An online petition on the National Assembly's website is calling for increased protocols and measures for faculty and students in schools across Quebec with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the petition, "the protective measures in place in schools are insufficient and that the appearance of the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus (B117) can lead to more serious consequences for young people."

Editor's Choice: Here's What Happened At Montreal's Anti-Curfew Protest Yesterday, According To The SPVM

1,163 Signatures on the petition at the time of writing this article.

The petition is asking for the following measures to be taken by the government:

• Keep schooling online when the rate of cases is 25/100,000 people or more per day.

• Make online schooling available for any parent or student who requests it at any time.

• Once the transmission rate is below 25/100,000 people per day, reopen schools in a gradual fashion.

• Provide each classroom with a CO2 detector and an air purifier with HEPA filters, as well as prohibiting the use of rooms without windows.

• Always maintain social distancing of two metres. 

• Administer weekly rapid saliva tests for all faculty and students.

• Provide PPE for all faculty and students.

• Make the wearing of masks mandatory from preschool onwards.

• Prioritize teachers and school faculty for the vaccine following health care professionals.

On Friday, January 8, the Ministry of Education announced new measures being taken as students prepare to return to class, including establishing a tutoring program, cancelling exams and providing computers for all. New health measures were also introduced.

Despite the province-wide lockdown and imposed curfew hours, schools will remain open. Primary schools will return to class on January 11, while secondary and vocational schools return on January 18.

At the time of writing this article, the petition had 1,163 signatures.

The petition will remain open until January 26, 2021.