The Kamloops-Thompson Teachers Association says more pressure is being put on teachers on call to cover absences.

Speaking on NL Newsday, president Laurel MacPherson didn’t give specific data, but says more teachers in the school district are starting to call in sick.

“As cold and flu season is probably upon us to some degree, we’re seeing more and more teachers calling in sick. And with the strict protocols of the Ministry of Education, if you’re feeling sick or if a student is feeling sick they need to go home,” she says.

“So of course that puts pressures on TTOCs, the teachers teaching on call, it puts pressure on them in order to cover all the absences. As soon as you get into a number of people, as soon as you get into big groups, obviously germs are spread and people tend to get sick.”

MacPherson also echoed a concern from the BC Teachers Federation, that there has been conflicting information given to parents and students about COVID-19 symptoms to watch for.

She says Kamloops-Thompson School District has a list of seven symptoms but other districts have listed up to 16.