A Nova Scotia high school hockey team is headed back from Europe on Friday and into self-isolation because they spent time in Northern Italy.
Earlier this week SaltWire reported that the female hockey team from King's-Edgehill School, a private school in Windsor had planned to travel to Northern Italy for a hockey game, as well as surrounding countries in Europe, but that the Italian portion of the trip had been cancelled due to coronavirus fears. That information came from the school.
On Thursday evening, headmaster Joe Seagram confirmed that though their hockey game was cancelled, the group did in fact travel to Northern Italy.
Seagram was not able to give specifics on the exact areas visited by the team, or when or how long they were there.
The team left Canada on March 4, the same day the Nova Scotia government announced plans to halt all public school travel overseas, and two days after the Canadian government issued a travel advisory for the regions of Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige/Sudtiro, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna (which include popular tourist cities like Milan, Venice, Turin and Genoa). That advisory has since been expanded to all of Italy.
That means Health Canada is advising against non-essential travel and asking Canadians in Italy to consider returning to Canada.
"Frankly, there are parents there, a lot of kids have their parents there."
Upon returning to Canada from Italy, Canadians have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days and monitor their health for fever, cough or difficulty breathing. If a traveller becomes sick within 14 days they must contact the public health authority in their province. Travellers from Hubei province, China and Iran are also being asked to self-isolate regardless of if they have symptoms. Travellers coming from a number other countries are simply being asked to monitor for symptoms, and self-isolate should they develop any.
Contrary to early information regarding the spread of the virus, several studies have now shown that COVID-19 can be spread by carriers who show no symptoms.
Self-isolation plans
On Wednesday, U.S. president Donald Trump announced travellers from Europe would not be allowed into the country.
Seagram said the school group plans to self-isolate upon return to Canada on Friday. He was not able to say whether the group had taken precautions when travelling and staying with host families in other parts of Europe like Germany and Austria.
“Frankly, there are parents there, a lot of kids have their parents there. These are smart, reasonable people,” he said.
Another European trip planned by the school has been cancelled.
Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 and is reporting widespread, sustained community-level spread of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the month, it’s seen the number of cases grow from under 2,000 to more than 12,000, and is now the country with the second most infections after China. In light of this, the Italian government has closed most shops, gyms, museums, clubs, and other non-essential establishments. More than 800 people have died.
Seagram said the school will be in contact with health officials in Nova Scotia on how to proceed. He said when he last spoke with the coach, all the students, parents and staff were doing well.
“They're all healthy, and they've had the most amazing time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the school has extended March break until April 13. A memo from the headmaster to parents says classes will be run remotely for the last two weeks of the break with teachers providing work and assignments online. The extra two weeks will help ensure those who travel on March holiday don't come back to school sick.
A spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia Department of Health said public health officials are aware of the situation and have been in conversation with the school. Individuals returning from Northern Italy are being told to self-isolate for 14 days. Those who develop a fever and or cough should dial 811 for assessment, she said.
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