Rural schools close as Albertas COVID 19 vaccine passport system launches

By Staff The Canadian Press

Posted September 20, 2021 5:37 pm

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Two schools in rural Alberta are closing their classrooms over the number of students not attending because of COVID-19 infections.

The Big Valley School and the , both in the central part of the province, report that over 10 per cent of their students are away because of the illness.

READ MORE: Edmonton Catholic Schools taking COVID-19 contact tracing into its own hands

Both are shifting their programs to online learning for students in Grades 1 through 9 until Oct. 1.

Kindergarten and playschool will continue at Big Valley School.

READ MORE: Albertaâ€™s vaccine passport starts Monday amid growing 4th wave of COVID-19

The move comes on the first day of the provincial governmentâ€™s new proof-of-vaccination program that allows some facilities to operate without capacity limits and other public health measures.

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Entertainment facilities are eligible to participate in the program, allowing them to operate normally as long as they ask patrons to show proof of vaccination.

Facilities including stores, libraries, hotels, post-secondary institutions and churches are not eligible but must follow rules like capacity restrictions.

Watch below: Some recent videos about the COVID-19 situation in Alberta.