Thousands of EPSB students out with 'respiratory illness'

Edmonton Public Schools says more than 6,800 students are home sick with a respiratory illness.

The board sent a letter home to parents last week.

“That term, respiratory illness, I’ve received a lot of phone calls from parents saying, ‘What is this? Is this COVID? Do you know if it’s COVID?’” board chair Trisha Estabrooks told CTV News Edmonton.

“That’s the language that AHS [Alberta Health Services] has asked us to use in the letter. We’re not health officials. This is us still navigating this pandemic. This is the language of AHS, and this is the language we have to use.”

Schools no longer receive daily updates from AHS about infection rates. Estabrooks is encouraging parents to let schools know about positive cases, and to keep kids home when they’re sick.

“If your kid is sick, keep them home. It’s just no longer acceptable, and it hasn’t been for a couple of years now, to send your child to school if they’re sick.”

EPSB has about 109,000 students.