Dear COVID-19;

    There are many theories regarding why you’ve come to grace us with your presence.
    You’re here to keep us indoors while pigeon spies have their batteries changed. You’ve been created by Trump so that he can find a vaccine and save the world, ensuring he’ll remain President for decades. You were created by China to give them the power to overtake the world’s economy. You’ve been sent to cleanse the Earth due to our disregard for pollution. You’ve come to remind us of what matters most beyond material consumption.
    Whatever the theory, you are part of daily conversations for all of us. You prompt fears and concerns, but you have also inspired kindness, closeness, and new technological ways of communication. We know you aren’t here for a few weeks and your mysteries will continue to be unveiled. We’re here to provide readers with facts while keeping the heart of our community pumping beyond the pandemic.
    There are 3 concerns that are often misrepresented about you in the general public which we’ve tried to clarify here:
    You, COVID, can infect anybody: too many assume that you can’t harm the young and healthy. Yes, like all infectious diseases, the elderly and those with medical conditions are more vulnerable to you, COVID. But you infect all ages and one mystery we have yet to untangle is why some healthy, young people succumb to your power.
    Self-isolation means we can go out for walks: No, if we are on self-isolation due to travel or COVID symptoms, we must remain at home. As the Medical Officer of Health noted: we can spend time in our backyards, but we are not to leave our home area. This is nicely summarised on the Alberta website: “Do not go outside for a walk through your neighbourhood or park. This includes children in mandatory isolation.” (www.alberta.ca). Thanks COVID, for keeping us away for our gorgeous Spring landscape here in Drumheller. Luckily, here in Alberta, we’ve had cold weather and snow, inspiring us to stay indoors anyway.
    Cure: there is currently no cure, COVID. A vaccine must be created to counter your spread and the brightest minds are working around the clock to find it. And they will.
    You may be invisible to the naked eye, but you will be found. Stand assured, a vaccine will come and humanity will persevere.

Drs. Rithesh and Veronique Ram

Dear COVID-19 is a weekly column supplied by Drs. Rithesh and Veronique Ram. Send any questions, thoughts, theories or stories on COVID-19 to info@riversidemedical.ca and we will respond weekly.

Christ the Redeemer School Division will be holding a special meeting to decide the fate of St. Luke’s Outreach School in the valley.
    The Board of Trustees at Christ the Redeemer have passed a Notice of Motion regarding the potential closure of the  Outreach Centre in Drumheller at the end of 2019-2020  school year.  The vote is scheduled to take place on May 28.
    Prior to the vote, a public meeting is being held on Tuesday, April 21. While the meeting is slated to be held at St. Anthony’s School, because of a prohibition of public gatherings it may be held online.
    Christ the Redeemer Superintendent Scott Morrison tells the Mail there are a couple of different reasons the  board is contemplating closing the Outreach Centre.
    “The first reason is the funding structure for the Outreach has changed slightly. The Ministry used to provide funding for each outreach site, for the cost of the facility, and it has been reduced fairly substantially for us,” he said.
    Christ the Redeemer currently operates four Outreach Centres, with campuses in Brooks, High River, and Okotoks. These provide a non-traditional school setting, offering curriculum for students who require a more flexible approach.
    Morrison notes the enrolment at the Drumlin Outreach is also low.
    “If it serves over 20 kids it would be something we would consider viable and a sufficient demand,” said Morrison. “Enrolment has been around 10  for several years, so there just isn’t really the demand there.”
    He says in the event of a closure, students are encouraged and welcome to enrol at St. Anthony’s School.
    “We know we can take good care of them at that building,” said Morrison.
    The meeting is on Tuesday, April 21 at  7 p.m.  Those who are able to video conference via Zoom can go to www.redeeemer.ab.ca to link to the meeting. Those who are not able to videoconference can dial into the meeting at 1-438-809-7799 and enter meeting ID: 349 373 435.
    St. Luke’s is currently closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic.