Parent group calling on Manitoba to send home rapid tests with students over holidays
One parent council group is calling on the province to send students home with rapid COVID-19 tests during the holidays, a move that has already happened in Ontario.
Last month, the Ontario government announced students would receive tests over the winter break to prevent infected kids from returning to school, which would help cut down on the chances of school shutdowns.
“If parents want that option, then parents should have that option,” said Brenda Brazeau, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils.
Brazeau wants the Manitoba government to pull a page from Ontario and also send tests home, noting students could have more contacts over the break and now the Omicron variant is in Manitoba.
“Especially, like we said, with extended family. That definitely throws another stress into the matter, we just want families to be healthy.”
The Manitoba School Boards Association said in a statement to CTV News that if the province decides to send tests home, it would help.
“Should rapid testing for students be initiated on a larger scale here in Manitoba, school boards will continue to assist in the operationalization of such measures at the local level,” the statement said.
Esther Blum has two grandkids in school and their parents are both teachers. She thinks it makes sense to offer testing kits for kids.
“The more testing the better. I think I’d sleep better at night,” said Blum. “I think it’s a good idea. I don’t think the tests are harmful or they’re onerous, and so why not?”
Kids in Ontario are supposed to be tested every three to four days in Ontario starting on Dec. 23 and each student gets five tests sent home with them.
CTV News has reached out to the Manitoba government for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.