Montrealers react to students going back to school on Monday

Quebec students have been doing online learning for the last week – in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, but come Monday, they’ll be ditching their laptops as they’ll be back in school.

Quebec deemed it safe for in-person learning on Thursday, saying masks will be worn at all times and rapid tests will be available.

“I’m scared because COVID and I don’t know, I’m not sure if it’s going to spread to my class,” said Bella Bolanis, a grade 5 student.

Bolanis is one of many Quebec students that have been doing school work online at home. Her mother says it’s been a lot to manage.

“It is super stressful. This is not what anyone signed up for. This is probably the hardest on families,” explained Nadia Lawand, mother of Bella Bolanis.

“I’m really happy that technically they’re going back to school. But at the same time scared because I see the numbers in the hospitals.”

Lawand isn’t the only parent concerned about in-person learning resuming. Adam Allouba co-authored a petition to reopen Quebec schools safely and protecting staff and students – by using air filters and n95 masks.

“Were worried about her (Allouba’s daughter) being one of the children who might get really sick. She has a younger brother whose two. What about him? We’re worried she might bring it home and spread it to one of us. Breakthrough infections can be serious,” he explained.

“I would’ve preferred an extra week or two,” Sabrina Jafralie, a high school teacher told CityNews, “We didn’t see a break in the numbers, we know the healthcare system is under pressure. We also know Omicron is quite contagious. I look at the situation and in an ideal world, we would’ve planned better for this.”

Experts say it’ll be key for those in schools – to mask up tests as much as possible and have encouraged vaccinations and staying home when symptoms show.

“It’s really important that we treat in-person school like an essential service. So, I’m happy that schools are reopening next week,” said Dr. Jesse Papenburg, pediatric infectious disease specialist and medical microbiologist.

Those who are double vaccinated and symptomatic can return to school after five days of testing positive. Those not adequately vaccinated should isolate for ten days.

“It is a little bit based on what we know on previous variants. But I think it does make sense trying to strike a balance being very cautious also pragmatic,” explained Papenburg.

“I’m also happy that we’re going back to school. I want to see my friends and I miss my teachers,” said Bolanis.

Amid the anxiety, some parents like Lawand are ready to see their kids trade their laptops in.

“Even if we are scared, even if we do want don’t want to go back, regardless of how we feel about going back, this is hard,” said Lawand.