Alberta schools extend winter break to curb COVID-19 spread

Alberta’s public schools are sending students home for longer than usual this winter break in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Students in Grades 7 to 12 are being sent home on November 30 and will continue online-only learning until the term ends on December 20. Younger students will continue in-person classes until December 18.

All public schools are pushing back their start of in-person classes to January 11, 2021. The first week of school in the new year will be online-only.

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Premier Jason Kenney announced the change at a news conference Tuesday, where he also introduced several new public health restrictions amid a streak of record-setting daily infection numbers.

“The week after the holiday is to allow kids who have been around family and friends to have latency period,” Kenney said, adding teenagers are much more likely to spread the virus than younger children.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro added diploma exams will be optional this December and said students can choose to write them or receive an exemption.