Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore has revealed the provincial ‘back-to-school’ plan.
Local students won’t return to the classroom until Wednesday, giving extra days to prepare.
The following additional measures were announced this afternoon:
-Updating the COVID-19 school and child care screener ahead of the return to school on January 5 and asking students, parents and staff for rigorous screening and monitoring of symptoms.
-Providing non-fit-tested N95 masks for staff in schools and licensed child care settings as an optional alternative to medical/surgical masks, and additional supply of high-quality three-ply cloth masks that are strongly encouraged and free for students and children in January.
-Deploying an additional 3,000 standalone HEPA filter units to school boards, building on the existing 70,000 HEPA filter units and ventilation devices already in schools.
-Continuing PCR testing eligibility for symptomatic elementary and secondary students, education staff and participating private and First Nation operated schools who have received a PCR self-collection kit through their school.
-Starting in January, temporarily permitting only low-contact indoor sports and safe extra-curricular activities.
-Updating COVID-19 reporting requirements for school boards and child care in January.
-Supporting the projected hiring of over 2,000 staff, funded by a $304 million allocation for second semester that includes additional teachers, custodians, and mental health workers.
Dr. Moore added the Children’s Health Coalition – representing Ontario’s children’s hospitals, mental health agencies and rehabilitation centres – has emphasized that in-person education is critical to the mental health, development and well-being of children and youth.
