A special contingent of public health nurses is getting ready for the opening of schools in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.
The six nurses are part of the Public Health response to schools opening this week, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They will eventually be joined by two more nurses during the year, bringing the total to eight nurses assigned exclusively to the schools.
At a teleconference meeting on Wednesday, Program Manager Bill Sherlock told the Board of Health that one of the nurses “is actually a healthy babies nurse, two are sexual health nurses.”
He said they will provide sexual health “down the road.”
Sherlock outlined how two public health inspectors have been working on an infection control list with the school board officials.
There has also been “outbreak management” guide training this week for schools, following provincial guidelines, on how to manage a COVID-19 outbreak in the schools.
Concerns about mental health issues for school children, and the difficulties with day care, during Covid-19, were raised during the teleconference.
Belleville Councillor Sean Kelly questioned public health officials about what help there would be for students with mental health issues, particularly over the next eight months.
Program Manager Bill Sherlock said “it is on the radar” for public health.
Quinte West Councillor Terry Cassidy said it is important that parents know schools and daycare are all working together, since many day cares are not yet open.
Cassidy added it’s “critical” that parents know there’s a day care option that is operating.
Regarding contact tracing in the schools, Sherlock told the board that staff training on the new provincial program will begin on September 10.
He said public health officials are making sure “what the signage is like and make sure about the hand hygiene” in the buildings.
“There are lots of questions coming in from schools, and we are getting timely updates to the schools.”
Sherlock anticipates a higher absenteeism rate. He pointed out there are “similar, all kinds of respiratory viruses every year. Any symptoms they should go home, and get tested.”
