The schools have no way to assess if a child returning from a vacation (from anywhere in the world) may be infected or carrying a virus. It can take up to 2 weeks to show the symptoms. One can be the virus carrier for two weeks before showing any symptoms and spreading the virus to others around them. 

Nothing is more important that our children's health and safety. As a health and safety measure and in light of 30,000 active cases in BC, and 2.44 million found across Canada so far, we request the authorities at Surrey School District Board to close the schools to help curb this virus from spreading. It is important to understand the risk of how quickly, in a school, the virus can spread from one infected child to multiple others. 

       It may be worthwhile to make arrangements for alternate ways of teaching (online and virtual) for the duration of this pandemic to benefit our children's education and learning in a safe environment.

      With the omicron variant and all of our family members at home, it is best to help slow the rise of Covid-19. With new viruses daily, we never know what new variant will arise and devastate our community.