Enhanced Safety Measures in Place as In-Person Learning Resumes Across Ontario

Provincial Medical Officials are Confident Students can Return to Class Safely

News.Ontario.ca
Feb. 4, 2021

Today, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the dates for the return of in-person learning in all remaining Ontario public health units (PHUs). The government's decision was based on the advice of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, the unanimous recommendation of the Council of Medical Officers of Health, and with the support of local Medical Officers of Health.
Elementary and secondary schools in the following PHUs will return to in-person learning on Monday, February 8, 2021:

• Brant County Health Unit
• Chatham-Kent Public Health
• Durham Region Health Department
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
• Halton Region Public Health
• City of Hamilton Public Health Services
• Huron Perth Public Health
• Lambton Public Health
• Niagara Region Public Health
• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Elementary and secondary schools in the following PHUs will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, February 16, 2021:

• Peel Public Health
• Toronto Public Health
• York Region Public Health

In the PHUs that are permitted to return to in-person learning on February 8, before and
after school child care programs are permitted to resume on that day, therefore February 5 will be the last day for emergency child care. In the Peel, Toronto and York Region PHUs, where schools are continuing with remote learning until February 16, before and after school programs will be permitted to reopen on that day and emergency child care will remain available until and including February 12, to support eligible front-line workers.

"Following the best medical advice, with the clear support of both Ontario's and the local Medical Officers of Health, we are reopening schools across the province knowing that we have taken additional steps and made additional investments to better protect our students and staff," said Minister Lecce. "Nothing is more important than returning kids to school safely because it is crucial for their development, mental health, and future success."

To support the safe return of in-person learning, Ontario has introduced new measures to continue to protect students and staff against COVID-19 in the classroom. These measures include:

• Provincewide access, in consultation with the local PHU, to targeted asymptomatic testing for students and staff;
• Mandatory masking requirement for students in Grades 1-3, and masking requirement for Grades 1-12 outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained;
• Providing 3.5 million high quality cloth masks to schools as back-up supply for Grade 1-12 students;
• Enhanced screening for secondary students and staff;
• Guidance discouraging students from congregating before and after school; and,
• Temporary certification of eligible teacher candidates who are set to graduate in 2021 to stabilize staffing levels, following high levels of absenteeism.

"Reducing the transmission of COVID-19 is fundamental to keeping our communities and schools safe," said Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health. "Our collective efforts, like strictly adhering to all public health measures, in addition to the enhanced safety measures in schools, will help keep communities healthy and students learning alongside their peers in their classrooms."

To further promote health and safety for students and staff, Ontario recently made an additional $381 million in funding available for schools. Provided under the federal Safe Return to Class Fund, this funding will be used to improve air quality and ventilation in schools, support online learning, promote student mental health and hire additional staff. In total, Ontario has provided schools with more than $1.6 billion to protect against COVID-19.

PHUs continue to reserve the authority to close schools to in-person learning based on local circumstances.

Quick Facts

• To date, Ontario has supported:
• the hiring of 3,400 teachers (with an additional 890 projected to be hired);
• the hiring of 1,400 custodians (with an additional 400 projected to be hired);
• the hiring of over 500 principals, vice-principals and admin staff to support new virtual schools;
• the hiring of up to 650 educational assistants, mental health workers and professionals to provide special education and mental health supports; and,
• over 23,000 HEPA filters and 20,000 portable HEPA units, and nearly 3,000 other ventilation devices.
• In recognition of the additional costs facing many families during this period, Ontario is providing support through an expanded Support for Learners program. Since the start of the pandemic, Ontario has allocated nearly $900 million in direct financial support to families. Applications under the Support for Learners program close on February 8, 2021.
• Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has invested more than $42.5 million in student mental health, including an additional $10 million announced on January 20, 2021, to respond to the extension of virtual learning.
• The federal Safe Return to Class Fund is providing funding in two phases. The first installment of $381 million, as announced on August 26, 2020, is being used to support a number of priority provincial initiatives related to the safe reopening of schools. The allocations are proposed by Ontario but require federal approval.