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If you’re a Toronto parent with a kid in school and you’re wondering if it’s time to panic at the conflicting messages, divided powers, daily reversals and constant uncertainty about COVID and its impact on your child, Toronto Public Health answered your question Tuesday. It’s yes.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa used her powers under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to order all elementary and secondary schools in the country’s biggest city closed as of Wednesday.
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The battles over Ontario’s delayed March Break and classroom health risks have brought into new focus the tensions between the Ford government and the province’s teachers’ unions.
Teachers unions say there is still much work to be done to ensure safe school returns, and that they have been asking the province for the data upon which it is basing its school-opening decisions. They also criticized the province for delaying the March Break vacation a couple of weeks until April, while easing lockdown restrictions elsewhere, such as re-opening businesses.
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All school boards will now be required to conduct asymptomatic testing of staff and students in at least five per cent of schools within their jurisdiction every week.
Posted: Feb 12, 2021 10:16 AM ET | Last Updated: February 12
Hamilton schools will begin asymptomatic testing for staff and students.(Bobby Hristova/CBC)
Asymptomatic students and staff from two in Hamilton will be offered targeted, rapid COVID-19 testing on Saturday.
Hamilton Public Health Services says Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School (1824 Rymal Rd. E.) and Orchard Park Secondary School (200 Dewitt Rd.) will offer the testing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Only students and staff from both of these schools can receive the testing. Also, asymptomatic students and staff from Eastdale Elementary School and Winona Elementary School can get tested at Orchard Park. These areas were identified as neighbourhoods where the uptake of testing is low, COVID-19 rates are higher and there has been a history of school outbreak, the city said in a media release.