A worker who spotted Red Deer students huddled together wonders who’s responsible for ensuring protection against the spread of COVID-19.
Geoff Lagoutte, of Strathmore, took a photo of the youths Monday at around 10:10 a.m., when students are on their break at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School.
“There was probably 30 plus students right across from the school,” he said Wednesday, adding he was working in Red Deer and was on his coffee break when he saw the group.
“I was like, wow,” said Lagoutte, who is a father himself, adding none of the students were social distancing.
“Who takes accountability of that? Is it the students themselves, or is it in the authority of the school to go out and say ‘hey, you guys are on our time.’”
Red Deer Public School Division confirms students are under the school’s care and supervision during school hours, including breaks.
Lindsay Thurber principal Chris Good said the school follows all guidelines set out by Alberta Health.
“We monitor and supervise students, as well as continue to remind them to physically distance,” Good said.
“Having said that, students, particularly those who are older in age, also have responsibility to ensure they are practising all health guidelines.
“With numbers increasing, we all need to do our part, knowing the potential consequences of congregating in large groups, particularly with others who are not in our cohorts.”
Lagoutte said with the increasing number of active cases in Alberta, the sight was concerning.
“To me, it only takes one person to be in contact with COVID. The next thing you know, you’ve got 30 plus students that are affecting how many different classrooms inside the school?
“It’s just a game of multiplication at that point.
“It’s not going to take much to keep going out of control. Nobody wants that. And that’s exactly what this scenario is: potential for that to get even further.”
He is also questioning what’s happening at schools across the province.
“This is only one school. What about other schools?”
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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