Easing of COVID-19 measures increases risk for immunocompromised students in Alberta

The mandatory mask requirement for students in Alberta was lifted Feb. 14, leaving some scared and confused

Many immunocompromised individuals are concerned that the Alberta government is removing the Restrictions Exemption Program and the mandatory mask requirement in schools, without consideration for their safety.

“It’s so scary and I’m so afraid, because there’s so much contact now,” said Aspen Hubka during a phone interview. The Grade 12 student from Edmonton is immunocompromised and is attending school for the first time after the mask mandate was removed. After their first day of classes they said “I was really nervous when I first walked in… most of the people who didn’t have masks on stayed away from me which was really nice.”

Hubka wishes the government did not remove the mask mandate saying “it doesn’t seem like we’re ready yet, and we’re not, I don’t think we are.” The province reported 35 new deaths related to COVID-19 on Feb. 14, along with 2647 new cases. There are currently 1,528 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 124 in ICU. Hubka said “I don’t think the government takes minorities into account, my experience hasn’t been considered at all.” They asked that schools continue to practice social distancing and sanitation procedures.

Carroll Glidden, a teacher and administrator in Camrose, is also immunocompromised. She said during a phone interview “I’m very confused about it, it’s too soon, it’s too quick for me.” She said the school environment doesn’t always feel safe, “When the kids were wearing masks you felt more protected, to have the masks removed right away didn’t make us feel as safe.”

Glidden questioned the choice to remove masks in schools as “older students don’t have to wear the masks in school but they have to wear them in public… and last week we had 40% of the kids away one day and now we have no masks.” She also noted that social distancing is difficult due to the number of students in each classroom.

“It doesn’t make sense because initially when the pandemic hit, schools were seen as a particular place where there was risk of spread… to pretend it’s somehow gone away makes no sense,” said David Leopofsky, lawyer, professor and chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance during a phone interview. He said “protecting the immunocompromised protects everyone” and urged people to “keep the masks on, keep the infections down and keep more people alive.”

While Ontario is set to remove the vaccine passport on March 1, the mandatory mask requirements are to remain in place. The rate of cases is currently higher per capita in Alberta, however the two provinces are comparable. Ontario reported 42 new deaths related to COVID-19 on Feb. 14, along with 1765 new cases. There are currently 1,369 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 394 in ICU. Lepofsky’s advice to the Ontario government is “to not implement a one size fits all plan that assumes everyone does not have a disability.”