The highly anticipated return to in person learning is now delayed once again.
Both public and catholic schools in Toronto are closed today due to the winter storm. Students will be learning remotely.
Education Minster Stephan Lecce was interviewed this morning.
When asked about if the benefits of kids learning in person kind of outweigh the risks of them getting covid and the significance of setting up education or health advisory in schools, Stephan said:
“Firstly, the return to school is strongly supported by Ontario chief medical officer of health and, of course, the pediatric hospitals of Ontario, and we think it’s important for their mental and physical health. We also know that we’ve taken extraordinary steps to reduce the risk of transmission within our childcare and education settings. As kids return to school, we’re gonna continue the strong collaboration with the chief medical officer, health and public health to reduce the risk.”
“One of the three problems in Canada is to accelerate boosters for education staff, you know, vaccination clinics in elementary schools on a voluntary consent basis to reduce any barriers to get it immunized. And finally, a continued focus on rapid testing, one of the few problems that have confirmed millions of rapid tests within our school boards in Toronto. for example, they have kitted them, and they’re ready to go as soon as schools open.”
“Appreciating that mother nature had a different plan this morning. But look at the end of the day, we simply want to acknowledge the parents. It’s been a challenge. None of this has been easy, and I really do have a great deal of hope that we can get these kids back in a setting where I know they want to be. And I think overwhelmingly, parents want them to be, which is with their friends, with every layer of protection in place. And that’s exactly what we’re doing today.”
Still, there is also some trepidation, hesitation and concern about sending kids back to class, because a lot of the medical experts say that the province now is effectively flying blind when it comes to covid-19. Some people are suggesting that opening up the schools now are still in the sort of peak of this Omicron wave is a little bit reckless. Regard to these health critics, Stephan said:
“Ontario’s children’s health coalition represents every pediatric hospital in Ontario, and it doesn’t agree with this health critics. they are experts in children’s welfare, their health, and they have been clear that there is clear value in getting the kids back with the layers of protection we put in place.”
“The other thing I’d say, our premier works very hard to deliver was a rapid test. I mean, we didn’t have that in 2021, we didn’t have access to them from the federal government until literally weeks ago. So we’ve now committed 3.9 million that are in the hands of school boards in Toronto. I know that they worked hard over the last couple days to get them ready to distribute today. I mean, obviously, that may take some delay, but the point is parents who have access to millions of rapid tests on a weekly basis for symptomatic purposes at home. That means for a parent on a day to day basis, if your child has a symptom. They’re gonna stay home because you’re gonna screen them. You’re now gonna have access to a rapid test. You’ll wait 24 hours, then do a second negative test. The symptoms upside. You get your child back and reduce them in a time to out of school.”
“You know, level of confidence that your child does not have Covid as they return to school and as they carry on with their life. and so we think that the protocols in place are strong. They’ve been enhanced with rapid test and play masks for kids, and of course, better ventilation. One thing we can’t discount for this discussion is the work that our province has done alone in investing in ventilation on my provincial counterparts across Canada. Many of them are scrambling to buy happy units. We have 70000 in place in September. For parents who want to know the ventilation improvements in your schools today right now. Since September, the only problems that require every school on a school by school basis, the ventilation proven is the mechanical ventilation that have the units in place. The fact that we use the highest quality filters. All of this has been in place for months before Omicron, because we’ve tried to be as proactive as possible, as you can see the virus is changing so quickly.”
At last, when reporter mentioned if 3 ply cloth mask is enough for children, Stephan mentioned:
“The chief medical officer has suggested that when he was asked this question as recently as Thursday, that public health of Ontario and the public health agency of Canada does recommend a high quality 3 ply mask. We have those 4 million more have been provided schools. I think what I simply say is, if doctor and public health of Ontario recommend that we go further. I think, with the premier and the government is demonstrating, we will do that. I mean, we’ve gotten ahead of public health advice throughout the pandemic, and I think families should know if that is the advice of medical community to elevate to higher quality mass will absolutely.”
“We just wanna reduce the risk and keep these kids in school. We know that’s so important for their mental and physical health, which is why we’ve increased our protocol and strengthen it every step the way through the pandemic.”
Resource: CP24