Former doctor warns COVID-19 variant in Sask. schools could be a 'game changer'

It's been just over a month since the majority of Saskatchewan schools reopened,and in that time more than 180 cases COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in schools during that time, with nine schools declaring outbreaks.

"Controlling COVID outbreaks in the school really depends on controlling the spread in the community. And we have not had a good level of control over the spread," said Dr. Dennis Kendel, a retired physician and health policy consultant.

With Saskatchewan currently averaging225 new cases a day, it's inevitable that cases will happen in schools, Kendel said in a Friday interview with CBC News.

Reducing community activities could also help slow the number of COVID-19 cases in schools, Kendel said, as community cases impact the schools.

Businesseslike bars should be closed, Kendel said, and people should think about their personal choices.

"It may be necessary to further curtail some of those contacts through activities like hockey practice," he said. "It's not an all or nothing thing. I mean, the question is, what additional activities could be curtailed?"

Kendel said the word "lockdown" has becomehighly politicized lately, with opposition to limits on some non-essential activities.

However, he said there are countries that have lower cases because of short-term lockdowns and positive lockdown messaging.

New variant a concernin schools

Kendel said when talking about cases in schools, it's important to keepvariants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in mind. There are two main virus variants circulating, including the onefirst detected in the U.K. Sasktchewan has three confirmed cases of that variant so far.

"If the variants spread more easily and get into the schools, I think that will be a game changer," Kendel said.

Kendel said there's research to suggest thevariants can be spread withfar lessclose contact between people than the original coronavirus.

In advance of the variants hitting schools, Kendel said more precautions should be considered.

"Maybe some schools are going to have to reconsider using some of the classrooms and maybe they'll have to go online," Kendel said.

The provincial government recently announced it will work to develop the capacity to test for the COVID-19 variants in Saskatchewan. Currently, tests are being done out of Winnipeg, and there's alag of about two weeks before results are known.

"I hope that we can develop that testing capacity quite quickly," Kendel said. "That should become a high priority because certainly if you have to wait for weeks it is a very long time."

Rapid testing in schools is also something to consider, Kendel said. Rapid tests look for antigen molecules specific to COVID-19 and are easier to use than standard tests. However, they are considered less sensitive than PCR-nasal swab tests and can potentially produce high rates of false negatives.

"If we had rapid rapid testing capacity in the schools, we'd probably earlier detect asymptomatic carriers as well," Kendel said.

Kendel said the science shows a fair amount of transmission occurs when people are asymptomatic, and going to school or work unaware they're infected.

Outbreaks declared at 9 schools

These Saskatchewan schools have all declared COVID-19 outbreaks during the month of January:

• North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
• Ecole Valois School in Prince Albert.
• OneSchool Global, Oxbow Campus.
• St. Augustine School in Saskatoon.
• Casswell School in Saskatoon.
• North Park Wilson School in Saskatoon.
• Henry Kelsey School in Saskatoon.
• Brilliant Star Montessori School in Saskatoon
• Ecole Forest Grove School in Saskatoon.