International travellers ordered to avoid schools for 2 weeks amid COVID-19 outbreak: memo

Students and chaperones who have returned or will return from international travel must avoid public schools for two weeks from the date of their return, according to a memofrom Education Minister Dominic Cardy.

The noticesent to parents Monday eveningfurther expands the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's precautionary measures against COVID-19 as the number of cases increasesworldwide.

The order retroactively affects individuals children, students, staff, volunteers and family members returning after this past Sunday and includesearly learning facilities and school district offices. It does not specify any particular country in the reference to "international travel."

CBC News has asked for clarification.

The minister also announced all international school-related travel has been cancelled for the remainder of the school year.

The news comes as a one Moncton-area mother expressedconcerns about high schoolstudents returning from Europe this week. Jill Foster said travellersshould be told toself-quarantine as a precaution against COVID-19.

About 50 Bernice MacNaughton High Schoolstudents and chaperonsdeparted Feb. 28 to visitGermany, Austria, Switzerland and France. They began the return trip Monday.

Foster's two daughters attend the Moncton school, but they weren't on the trip. Prior to receiving the memo, she said the province should impose restrictions given the spread of the illness in countries the students visited.

"I just think it might be a smart idea to err on the side of caution and have them quarantine themselves,"Foster said in an interview.

Education Minister Dominic Cardysaid Monday before the memo was sent the countries visited by the students aren't among those on atravel health notice list maintained by the federal government.But he said he expects an announcement about changes to the list within 24 hours.

He declined to comment on Foster's concerns.

The number of confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 the disease caused by the coronavirusclimbed by hundreds in Germany and France while theBernice MacNaughton students were in Europe.

There were 1,116 confirmed cases in France as of Monday, according to the World Health Organization. There were 1,112 confirmed cases in Germany.

However, those two countries aren't subject to the same travel advisories or post-travel restrictions as northern Italy, where the outbreak has been more severe. More than7,300 cases have been reported in that country as of Monday.

Travellers asked to self-monitor

Dr. Cristin Muecke, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health, said at a news conference Monday that anyonewho has travelled internationally should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after they return to Canada.

Symptoms includefever, coughand difficulty breathing, which can take up to 14 days to appear.

Cardy on Friday announced thatanyonewho has travelled to countries rated at a risk level of two or threewill be ordered to stay home from public schools or early learning facilities for14 days after they return home.

That was expanded to include students from the Sussex-area who had travelled to central and southern Italy, areas that weren't on the list.

While thecountries Bernice MacNaughtonstudents visited are seeing an increase in cases, they're not subject to the same travel guidelines or requirements to self-quarantine.The step is also above the precautions New Brunswickpublic health officials have recommended.

Foster said she'sworried about a student returningto school with COVID-19and the possibility it could thenspread. Foster said her daughters have daily contact withtheir grandparents, including one who is prone to lung issues already.

She said she initially wasn't concerned about the trip, but then the number of cases in countries the students visited began climbing by the hundreds over recent days.

"I would just like just to feel safe myself and to feel safe letting my kids go to school," Foster said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, which assesses the risk around COVID-19, has said the risk in Canada is low.

First death in Canada

The firstCOVID-19 death in Canada was announcedin British Columbiaon Monday.

While the majority of confirmed cases have been in China, the number of cases has risen in other nations, includingItaly, Iran and South Korea.

There were110,029 confirmed cases ofCOVID-19 in 105 countries, the World Health Organization reportedMonday. More than 3,800 people have died.