Thread by @Tommy_Slick

I am dialed into the press conference and waiting for it to begin in about 20 minutes. Can also watch online on 660citynews.com or listen live on our station @660NEWS #yyc #yeg #ab

https://twitter.com/Tommy_Slick/status/1285613998977830912

Operator has informed us the presser will be delayed by at least a further ten minutes.

Meantime, here are the latest COVID-19 numbers: 141 new cases, two more deaths. #yyc #yeg #covid19 #ableg

Also of note on these numbers...there is a new outbreak at the Peter Lougheed Centre. Guess we'll get details here, follow my colleague @Jeffslack660 for the specifics on COVID numbers from today's presser as I will focus on the schools.

We are officially underway now. Premier Kenney we should be all very concerned about this recent rise of cases, after "amazing" work by Albertans in past months.

Kenney says some folks are no longer observing the guidelines, and the results are troubling. He is pleading with Albertans, and doesn't want to reintroduce strict restrictions.

"Let me be blunt"..."knock it off" if you want to have large gatherings. Says people should get back to the basics by practising good hygiene, wearing masks, and being physically distant

Now to the school announcement, Kenney starting with some background on when schools were closed back in March.

Talking a bit about day care centres that were opened in May, initially just for the children of essential workers. Kenney says pandemic controls in these centres have been very effective.

Among the countries that didn't close schools or allowed children back, there has been a lot of evidence showing it can be done safely. Case loads remained stable in several European nations, no cases from BC at the end of their school year.

Kenney talking about studies showing how children are less likely to get sick and less chance of suffering serious effects. Only 13 per cent of infections in Alberta are under 18. Most have mild or negligible symptoms.

Kenney says there are serious long term effects of keeping schools closed. Some children trapped in impoverished or abusive homes. Also some economic costs relating to parents forced to stay home and care for children.

BREAKING: Alberta government will reopen K-12 education system in September, allowing in person classes.

Kenney says protocols will be evaluated regularly and this is based off of expert advice. He says there WILL be cases in schools, but the risks of continued closures are too great in his mind.

There will be physical distancing, putting kids in cohorts, boosting hygiene around schools, increased cleaning, staying home when sick. But, staff and students can wear a mask only if they choose - not mandatory in any way.

Kenney says they need to "get back to normal", or as normal as possible. Citing a survey that shows a majority of parents are in favour of going back to class. He feels this announcement give families enough time to prepare.

Kenney says kids are at lower risk of contracting the virus. He says older people are at higher risk. Does not acknowledge that many children live with or visit their elderly relatives.

Education Minister LaGrange up now. She says she is pleased to make this announcement, and many parents and children should be happy to go back into this "near normal" situation.

She says school days will look mostly the same with some modifications. Alberta Health has given lots of guidance. "Wide array of details", and some alternatives.

Hand sanitizer at school and classroom entrances, increased cleaning, adjusting the school day to account for this. For music classes, string instruments preferred over wind instruments.

LaGrange does not provide any other class details apart from that music class example. There is no mention of funding here as well.

LaGrange says summer schools have been operating well (although they have far smaller sizes). A return to school toolkit has been provided online (alberta.ca/returntoschool) to give some more details and "informative videos".

There are some additional steps being taken -- here's the funding. $250 million is available to school boards. Some have taken the money to make COVID related upgrades. Like touchless sinks and automatic doors.

Every school authority is receiving a funding increase this year, says LaGrange. Reserve funds (about $363 million) can be used to help with this as well.

Also, diploma exams will be available for all subjects earlier in the year. For high school, there can be fewer classes per semester to help with the cohort plans.

What if there is an outbreak? Health officials will inspect the school and figure out what should be done, and parents will be contacted immediately. Contact tracing will also be done. This may also include transitioning to partial or full online classes if there is a case.

Barry Litun, executive director, College of Alberta School Superintendents is up now. Supports this decision. Believes this also supports the views of the vast majority of parents.

He says the key to success will be the cooperation of school staff and parents to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. (What if they're asymptomatic?). He adds each division's re-entry plan may not look the same.

Says these guidelines are based on research and evidence, appreciates the trust put in school boards and superintendents to follow these guidelines.

Now Dr. Hinshaw is up. Detailing some of the health measures here. How will we keep them safe? She says there's no risk-free approach and no easy choices. She reiterates the research that long-term school closures can affect student health.

She says despite research that kids get less sick and transmit it less easily, this is not something to take lightly. Adds that there will be cases, and they need to focus on limiting onward spread in schools.

New measures require the daily monitoring of symptoms. Kids have to wash hands before and after going to class. Buses will also be cleaned more often. Staff advised to wear masks, but not required. Also, she notes that it would be tough to keep young kids masked

Keeping students in cohorts should limit transmission. Everyone will have to complete a self-screening before entering the school. Any symptoms identified means the kid will be pulled aside and sent home.

She says we have to be agile and adaptive. Feels this is the best plan to keep people safe. Now moving on to the daily COVID-19 update.

First question from @LucieEdwardson. Why make this announcement as cases rise? Hinshaw says we may not be seeing a huge increase in cases through the next month and a half. LaGrange says it is in the interest of providing clarity to families ASAP

From @Jantafrench, why make the comparison with summer school (way different parameters)? LaGrange says they helped prove the guidelines and show kids can go to school safely.

Kenney adds that he also cites other jurisdictions (BC and Europe), so he is confident there is a lot of evidence showing it can be done safely.

From @KevinCTV, citing some counter-research showing that kids ARE heavy transmitters. What about parents who don't send kids to school, forcing them to go? And, is there a class size limit?

Kenney doubling down on the research he is presenting. Says the "practical experience" reinforces their decision. Secondly, no they will not force people to go to school. If you choose not to send the kid, they will respect the choice and it may be facilitated in some way.

Kenney says home schooling is an option, and he does expect that some families will take that choice. LaGrange adds parents feeling unsafe should read their guidelines and feel confident in them. There's also a distance learning option.

They didn't answer the class size limit question. Kevin is cut off as he tries to get it in there.

(Sorry missed this next actual question) Hinshaw is talking about unknown cases and undiagnosed cases, and it's likely the number of real cases is actually a lot higher. Could hit another spike especially as the "R" number increases.

That said, there is an opportunity to turn the tide as long as everyone pitches in

From @SammyHudes, the ATA is concerned about if distancing can be maintained, how cleaning will be handled, what additional supports to teachers?
LaGrange says the school divisions are still finalizing all the plans and they can use money as they please.

Litun answering this as well. He says there's some upgrades already made, such as water bottle filling stations or making certain doors enter or exit only. He says the guidelines give room for the school boards to figure out best practices.

Next question does get Kevin's query in there: Limit in class sizes. NO there will not be a limit, says LaGrange. But teachers will be able to....place their desks differently around the room. They will have to find a way to enhance distancing. Final decision is with schools

From @MKingGlobal, we talk a lot about hygiene, how can we guarantee we won't still see a spike like right now? LaGrange says there will be cases in schools, but they have a "strong plan in place" to help identify and contain cases. Again, nothing on asymptomatic transmission

Hinshaw adds on that there will be more clear accountability in the schools, rather in the general public. Easier to enforce breaches in the guidelines.

Next question on how schools could go with blended learning, and what is the funding being added for this plan? LaGrange going back to the numbers that I tweeted out earlier. $15 million allocated to COVID infrastructure. Lots of cash in the reserves too.

She says parents can go to their school division to discuss any concerns that they have and possibility of online learning. The government won't be involved in this, it's at the school level.

Litun acknowledges there may be some hesitation, and maybe having a cohort of kids from different schools joining together in an online-learning type situation. Again, school boards can determine what is best (including moving away from this scenario overall)

Last question is in French. That is all for me here -- I wanted to ask specifically about asymptomatic cases and what to do if a lot of teachers get sick. Not once did they say the word "asymptomatic", no mention of what to do if teachers start going down.