Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada – an advocate organization for children – discoursed over the effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s children.
Children’s lives are being influenced by the pandemic in different ways than adults. Although most children aren’t becoming as severely ill because of COVID-19 in comparison to adults, many are possibly infected and are capable of quickly transmitting the virus to others.
“There’s not a lot of testing of children,” Austin said. “Instead, there’s been a focus on people showing symptoms.”
While much of the country self-isolates, many children are undergoing the adverse influences of being locked-in at home as the virus proliferates across the country. Virtually every child in Canada has had their school year interrupted. While several children have been able to participate in online learning, some households lack printers and computers. “Not all children have access to technology,” Austin pointed out. “In urban and rural communities, there’s going to be a significant need to support children through online learning and other means.”
Austin further discussed how a number of children in the country have depended on the nutrition programs provided by schools – these programs are now unavailable because of the coronavirus. Moreover, children can’t engage in recreational activities with one another during this interlude, where social distancing has become the norm. Since gatherings were maximized to 10 people at a time in Saskatchewan on March 25, organized sporting endeavours for children are no longer possible.
With unemployment figures increasing daily, children at risk are now more vulnerable to abuse as economic pressures continue to amplify the anxiety levels of parents and caregivers. Frontline employees, including teachers and teachers’ aides, are usually responsible for reporting on possible abusive situations at home. Yet, with many children no longer in school, Austin thought several exploited and mistreated children were facing terrible circumstances without the added supports from the nation’s education systems. “Abuse is probably escalating, but nobody knows about it,” Austin said.
Indigenous children living in remote and rural communities are exceptionally susceptible to the effects caused by COVID-19, because of overcrowded housing, lack of clean water and limited access to healthcare. “First Nations and Metis children up in the north are living in homes without good ventilation and safe clean water,” Austin said, adding “Many of these communities also don’t have access to hospitals.”
Federal, provincial and municipal authorities have introduced policies and programs to alleviate the sway of the pandemic upon Canadians. However, Children First Canada would like to remind all levels of government about the children at risk in this country and how the coronavirus has drastically altered their lives.
