Ontario schools in hot zones will be receiving asymptomatic testing

BY PAUL JUNOR

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in schools across Ontario, the provincial government has shelled out $13.6 million to school boards in four “red” zones. The extra funding is intended to add more workers and provide asymptomatic testing for students and staff.

Schools located in hotspots regions such as: Durham, Halton, Hamilton and Waterloo will receive these funds as part of provincial COVID-19 framework. Premier Ford states, “We know schools in red control zones need more support to keep teachers and students safe.” With this additional funding, it will add to the $35 million that Toronto, Peel, York and Ottawa have already received.

Premier Ford and Education Minister, Stephen Leece agreed that there will be changes made to the COVID-19 testing in these four hot zones so that school staff and students can receive asymptomatic testing. This will be running for the next four weeks in order to get a sense of how the virus is moving across Ontario.

As of the end of September, asymptomatic testing was only available if it was connected to a case that was known. Those who wanted one had to book an appointment at pharmacies that were designated by the government.

Premier Ford, when asked about the possibility of system-wide testing of teachers, responded affirmatively that he was in favour of it. He states, “If the teachers’ unions wanted it, we would do it, but I just don’t think that will happen.”

DHS News reported on Sunday, November 30th, 2020 that the Ontario government recorded 2,855 student COVID-19 cases since the reopening of schools in September, which have resulted in several school closures. The government data shows that: 86 of the cases were student-related, 15 staff related and one unidentified.

The Ontario government’s coronavirus tracking website which was updated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2020 revealed that there has been
5,024 school related cases, 3,234, school related student cases and 702 school related staff cases. 1,088 individuals have not been identified.

The four teachers unions have been asking for additional funding of over $3 billion to deal with safe and proper reopening of school. The provincial government has spent $460 million on school plan plans and an additional $381 million that it received from the federal government. The Ministry of Education has encouraged boards to tap into approximately $400 reserve funds to ensure that schools are able to meet with on-going and current issues.

The NDP is critical of the extra funding, which it described as “Half-measures.”

On Monday, November 30th, 2020 NDP MPs asked Premier Ford to ensure that there is wide scale COVID-19 testing at all schools in the province that are considered hotspots. They are requesting that the government ensure that voluntary testing centres are in place immediately in neighbourhoods, which are hardest hit.