TORONTO – Students will return to learning in person two days later than planned, according to the province’s top doctor.
Ontario Health Medical Director Dr. Kieran Moore announced that students will return to school on January 5, 2022, giving schools more time to implement new masking and other measures for staff and students. .
The back-to-school announcement was one of several made by Moore this afternoon (December 30).
Classes in schools will have more students in cohorts to keep groups separate, higher risk activities will be limited, and certain activities like school band will be “paused.”
Students were due to return to class on January 3, 2022.
Moore said more information on the use of rapid antigen tests and expanded online screening for students will be released before class begins next week.
Test rules change
Ontario’s testing strategy will change as of December 31. Starting on New Year’s Eve, PCR testing will only be available to demographics that are most at risk and employees who work in high-risk settings. People who test positive for a rapid antigen test no longer need to confirm the test result.
“Given the high risk in our communities, a positive test by a [rapid antigen test] no need PCR [test], ”Moore said confirming to Postmedia that either test is acceptable to confirm a COVID-19 case and that isolation recommendations should be followed independently.
Asymptomatic PCR testing will no longer be allowed under the new regulations.
“The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly. We must preserve these resources for those who need them most, ”said Moore, confirming that changes are also being made to isolation and COVID-19 hospital admission reports.
He said he expected there to be six to eight weeks of widespread Omicron activity in the province.
Isolation rules change
Starting December 31, a positive COVID-19 test will mean a five-day isolation period from the time symptoms appear. Moore said the highest infection period for the Omicron variant is two days before symptoms appear and three days after. If a person has tested positive, all household members should isolate themselves.
“Our main message is this: if you are sick, stay home,” said Moore.
The ICU and hospital reports will change to better reflect the reasons for the hospitalization. Moore explained that when a person is admitted to a hospital for a medical problem unrelated to COVID, patients are also tested for the virus. Those numbers have been added to the hospitalization numbers so far. Moore said hospitals need to clarify whether patients are hospitalized and COVID-19 is the main reason.
Capacity changes
Venues like theaters, arenas, and other large venues are limited to 50 percent of their regular capacity, or 1,000 people, whichever is less.
Contact tracking
Contact tracing is limited to people in high-risk settings, such as long-term care homes, and people who test positive. When a person tests positive for COVID-19, it will be their responsibility to do their own contact tracing.
Vaccine changes
People living in CTL homes and other “congregated living settings” will be allowed a fourth booster dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine if it has been at least three months since they received a third booster dose.
Registry of reported COVID-19 infections
Ontario reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases (13,807) on Thursday with a positive test of 30 percent.
By: Phillip Blancher, reporter for the Local Journalism Initiative
Reference-ygknews.ca