Community spread ‘escalating’: Teachers push for stronger COVID-19 safety measures in York Region schools

Yorkregion.com
March 25, 2021

Citing escalating levels of community transition of COVID-19 and its new variants, the president of a local teachers' union is urging York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji to intervene for safer schools.

"Our members are actively at school teaching students at a time where community transmission of COVID-19 and its variants are now escalating to levels which we would expect the PHU to be considering closing the schools to in-person learning, and requiring online learning only, for the safety of staff, students and their families,” Sandy Glassford, president of District 16 of Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, wrote.

Glassford described how there are concerns of spread of the virus and its new variants in both the community and schools.

"It's essential that our health-care services not become overwhelmed in this 'third wave', which (Ontario) chief medical officer of health Dr. (David) Williams stated had already begun."

Glassford said there is an "increasing number of infected persons in the 40- to 70-year-old age" and "continuing higher test positivity in students under the age of 19 when compared to other groups".

These facts signal that the pandemic is changing, Glassford said, adding getting the variants under control may require different steps.

The union requested the following information:

whether public health has metrics with respect to closure of schools and reversion to online learning;

when or at what thresholds public health will require closing the schools to in-person learning and requiring online learning; and

at what thresholds public health would permit the reopening of schools to in-person learning if exclusively online learning is required at some point.

Liz Stuart, president of Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, said March 22 during a media briefing that the Ontario government is continuing to "ignore recommendations from public health experts about the need for better ventilation and more physical distancing in schools".

As a result, as of last week, roughly one in five schools had a case of COVID-19, Stuart, who is also a York Region teacher, said.

A York Region teacher who spoke under the condition of anonymity also expressed his concerns on safety in schools prior to the union’s letter.

The teacher said safety protocols were already inadequate, but they are currently being "watered down".

There are no longer temperature scans taking place when students are dropped off, he said.

"We just drop them off and wave to the staff member who receives them," he said. "We are honest, but what if a parent drops off a mildly sick child?"

Another issue is that there is no way to maintain a two-meter distance between students in a class of 15, he said.

"In high school, most students are opting to learn online, but if they were to come to class, the same problem would apply."

There is also no verification that students have reviewed the daily COVID-19 screening sent to their email accounts.

"Kids are cohorted in class, but cohorts are not maintained on the school bus," he said. "There are no nurses or extra custodians on site, despite what the (Ministry of Education) says."