Alberta Students in grade 7-12 should be allowed to  ATTEND IN PERSON CLASSES from Nov. 30,2020 - Jan. 11,2021.

Students have done their part in school by following the implemented AHS health protocols. The spread of Covid-19 among students is happening primarily OUTSIDE of school. Students are NOT considered super spreaders and in school transmission of Covid-19 has remained low with only a couple of pockets of actual in school transmission.

Based on the data represented at https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm  Youth ages 11-19 are not of primary concern for mortality, ICU hospitalizations, hospitalizations, or even non-hospitalized cases. 

Average age for COVID cases that died is 82 years (range: 27-106)
Average age for COVID cases hospitalized with an ICU stay is 60 years (range: 4-89)
Average age for COVID cases hospitalized is 62 years (range: 0-103)
Average age for COVID cases not hospitalized is 36 years (range: 0-120)

The province wide action by the Alberta Government to suspend in person classes for grades 7-12 is unfounded.   School jurisdictions should have the right to manage their own students.  As per the government data, Calgary and Edmonton constitute 82% of the provincial Covid-19 cases. Students in school districts outside of these 2 cities should be assessed differently to help keep as many students benefitting from in person classes as possible.

Table 6. COVID-19 cases in Alberta by zone

Zone                          Count              Percent
Calgary Zone            20,609             42
Central Zone               2,175               4
Edmonton Zone        19,692             40
North Zone                  3,343               7
South Zone                 3,559               7
Unknown                       158                0
All                             49,536             100