Opposition Caucus Chair and MLA for Madawaska-Les Lacs-Edmundston, Francine Landry, is calling on government to keep schools in the Edmundston region closed and implement distance education as cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations remain high in the area.

“Parents and teachers are very concerned with the number of cases reported in schools, the significant number of people self-isolating and two recent outbreaks in long-term care facilities,” said Landry.  “I completely understand how people in our region are feeling — they are deeply concerned for the safety of their children and truly feel that the safest place for them until the current situation improves is at home.”

“It’s important that government appreciates the fact that the community is prepared to do its part to contain the virus and its variants and keeping schools closed and moving to distance education remain measures to that end.  We would urge government to move to distance education for the remainder of the week at a minimum and review the status again at that time.  We would also ask that government report its decisions on school openings in a timely manner.”

The designated area excluding Saint-Quentin and Kedgwick in Zone 4 continues to remain at the Red Level under the province’s mandatory order.