AHS Notice: Grad Sleepover

On Tuesday, August 25, The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education received a letter from Alberta Health Services directed to Parent and Student Organizers of Medicine Hat and Area Grad Sleepovers. View the letter below or click here to download the official letter pdf. 

__________________________________ 

August 25, 2020

To Parent and Student Organizers of Medicine Hat and Area Grad Sleepovers

Regarding: Grad 2021 Sleepovers for Crescent Heights High School, Medicine Hat High School,
Monsignor McCoy High School and Eagle Butte High School

We seek your immediate assistance in distributing the below important information to the
parent and student groups of the schools noted below. We appreciate your support in
protecting the health of your current and past students.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) Environmental Public Health has been advised that Grad Sleepovers are
planned as follows:

• Eagle Butte High School - Saturday, August 29, 2020
• Medicine Hat High School - Sunday, August 30, 2020
• Crescent Heights High School - Sunday, August 30, 2020
• Monsignor McCoy High School (Unable to confirm exact date)

Unfortunately, these events do not meet mandatory guidelines outlined in Chief Medical Officer of
Health Order 26-2020.

Considerations that have not been met include mandatory physical distancing requirement of at least
two metres from every person who is not a member of the same household or cohort, as well as
restriction of all indoor social events to no more than 50 persons and outdoor events with no seating to 100 persons. These numbers include including attendees, staff and volunteers. Adherence to hand
hygiene, illness screening and physical distancing requirements must be maintained during these social gatherings.

We respect and appreciate that this is difficult emotionally, for your children, as these sleepovers are a
tradition; however, these sleepovers also pose a significant risk of COVID-19 transmission that may put yourself, your child(ren), the teachers and the entire student body at risk.

We seek immediate confirmation that these events are cancelled, or revised to meet mandatory
guidelines, at this time.

To reach AHS, please call: 403-502-8205 or email Ken.longmore@albertahealthservices.ca.
The risk of these events is deemed of such significance, that AHS will be required to refer these events
to enforcement for further follow-up, should we not be informed of cancellation or significant revisions
made to meet all requirements stipulated in the CMOH Order 26-2020 and the current requirements of
social gatherings.

Sincerely,

Vivien Suttorp, MD, MPH, CCFP, FCFP, CCPE
Lead Medical Officer of Health
Alberta Health Services – South Zone

Shobhit Maruti, MD, MPH, FRCPC, DABPM
Medical Officer of Health
Alberta Health Services – South Zone

Lizette Elumir, MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
Alberta Health Services – South Zone