Teacher unions are voicing safety concerns ahead of schools reopening in Ontario next week as the government drastically limits access to PCR testing for students and teachers.
Karen Brown, president of the Ontario Federation of Elementary Teachers, said that while many teachers want to get back to in-person learning and feel that it is the “best way” to interact with students, some still worry if there will be enough safety. . Measures put in place by Monday to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.
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PCR testing to be used in “limited circumstances” when schools reopen in Ontario
Your union and the Ontario Federation of High School Teachers are calling for more HEPA filters in schools, reduced class sizes to promote physical distancing, along with COVID-19 testing, tracking and monitoring to ensure a safe return to schools.
Brown said she believes parents should prepare “for a lot of interruptions.”
“What they have announced so far is not enough,” added Brown.
“We have been in this pandemic for almost two years. Why do we keep asking for those things? And we need to do tests, we need rapid antigen testing and contract tracing done. “
Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Ontario Medical Director of Health Dr. Kieran Moore will make an announcement Wednesday about ongoing preparations for a return to in-person learning.
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In a written statement issued Tuesday, Lecce said the government has been preparing for the return of classroom learning “by doing everything possible to improve ventilation, provide high-quality PPE and expand access to vaccines.”
He said the province has shipped 9.1 million unadjusted N95 masks for staff and more than four million three-layer masks for students, with more shipments coming in the coming weeks and months.
It has also accelerated access to booster shots for early care and education staff, and is rolling out 3,000 more units of HEPA filters at school boards, in addition to the existing 70,000 units of HEPA filters and other ventilation devices in schools. .
Lecce said the province continues to choose take-home PCR tests for symptomatic students and educational staff, but the new guidance from the Ministry of Health shows that take-home PCR self-collection kits will only be provided to students and staff. who show symptoms while at school.
Test kits will only be issued to students or staff who develop a fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell, or two or more symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or muscle aches.
If a person has only one of the latter symptoms, or a different symptom such as conjunctivitis, they should isolate themselves until symptoms improve for at least 24 hours, or 48 hours if there are gastrointestinal symptoms, the document notes. In these cases, household members are not required to isolate themselves.
The ministry said the PCR kits will not be provided to entire cohorts or school populations.
The ministry said that those awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test, or unable to access a test, should isolate themselves at home, regardless of vaccination status, along with other people in their home. Isolation requirements vary from five to 10 days depending on age, vaccination status, and whether a person is immunosuppressed.
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The government said that due to widespread transmission and the inability to assess all symptomatic individuals, schools will not routinely notify students if they are exposed to a positive case, or if a child, student, or staff is absent due to symptoms associated with COVID-19
Karen Littlewood, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Foundation, questioned how safe it is to reopen schools as Ontario continues to report record numbers of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and intensive care, along with tensions in the health care system. .
“We want to be in class, we want to be face to face, but I don’t know what has changed since the tsunami that was announced last week,” Littlewood said.
Ontario reported 3,220 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 477 people in intensive care on Tuesday. There were also 250 patients on ventilators due to COVID-19.
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Reference-globalnews.ca