Ontario Premier Doug Ford: Can schools open safely given COVID-19?

TORONTO — The impact of COVID-19 variants and relatively low rates of vaccinated teachers and students raises serious concerns about reopening schools, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday, as he sought last-minute advice on whether to resume in-person learning for the final month of the academic year.

In an open letter, which sparked criticism the premier was ducking his decision-making responsibility,  Ford asked dozens of recipients whether returning to physical classrooms could be done safely. 

“Our government understands the benefits of having children learning in class,” he said. “At the same time, our top priority is to ensure any decision we make on school reopening is based on sound scientific advice, consensus and considers potential or future risks faced by students and staff.”

Ontario schools have been shut since April, when they were the sources of more COVID-19 outbreaks than workplaces or any other location, the premier said. While provincial case counts have fallen significantly in recent weeks, experts project a jump of up to 4,000 cases by the end of July if schools open in June.

The letter poses seven COVID-19 safety-related questions for doctors, scientists, public health authorities and teacher unions. It notes a lack of consensus on how, when and whether schools should reopen.

The letter cites a recent British study that a single vaccine dose was only 33 per cent effective against the B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India.

“What makes all this new information concerning is that … only 41 per cent of teachers and education workers are vaccinated compared to 62 per cent of the general adult population in Ontario,” Ford wrote.

In addition, many students are not yet vaccinated at all due to a lack supply, he said.

Many doctors, experts and parents have urged an immediate school reopening amid a sharp decline in cases recently, saying it's important for children's mental health. Ford acknowledged the concern as he cited safety fears.

Dr. Lawrence Loh, medical officer of health for hard-hit Peel Region, said discussions were ongoing but the COVID-19 situation was looking up.  

“With improving trends and capacity and strong safety protocols that reduce risk in schools, we would support a return to in-person learning in our jurisdiction at this time,” Loh said.

In urging reopening, Mississauga, Ont., Mayor Bonnie Crombie said teachers, parents and students need clarity quickly.

“Medical officers of health say the time is right to open them,” Crombie, said on social media. “We should listen to them.”

Critics accused Ford of sitting on his hands for many months, creating a last-minute scramble.

“It's the end of May, and just now Mr. Ford is asking health and education experts for feedback?” New Democrat education critic Marit Stiles said. “Doug Ford needs to stop treating kids' education as an afterthought.”

Green party Leader Mike Schreiner accused Ford of “fully abdicating his responsibility” by looking for a consensus.

“Being premier isn’t about being popular,” Schreiner said. “It’s about making the tough decisions but Ford continues to punt responsibility when it matters most.”

Liberal party leader Steven Del Duca said he hoped Ford would finally listen to the experts but called it “absurd” he had only given them one day to make their recommendation.

Ford said he wants feedback from the letter recipients before 5 p.m. on Friday.

570 NEWS obtained a statement from Region of Waterloo Public Health on Thursday, which included perspective from our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.

It said, “With improving provincial and local trends, Dr. Wang supports a return to in-person learning before we begin to lift restrictions more broadly as part of the three-step process to re-opening in Ontario. The decision to return to in-person learning, and when, will be made by the Ministry of Education in consultation with the Ministry of Health.”

Here's the latest from our local public health unit on where our Medical Officer of Health stands on reopening schools. https://t.co/ys7bUBdweX pic.twitter.com/hpukymrNGn

— Erin Anderson (@erinbailey_a) May 27, 2021

— With files from Holly McKenzie-Sutter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2021.

Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press