TORONTO – The numbers do not lie and unequivocally photograph an unreassuring reality in Ontario schools. The Covid-19 infections reported since the beginning of the academic year have reached the disturbing milestone of 5,068 about three weeks ahead of 2020: last year this number was reached on December 2nd.
The words of the provincial government that in the months before the return of the children to the school desks reassured parents, students and teachers have melted like snow in the sun: with the hygienic-sanitary measures, masks and anything else this year no school will close due to Covid infections. Schools are safe, in short. But the more than 5,000 infections tell another story. According to the Ministry of Education, the new cases in the last twenty-four hours have been 85 – 75 students, 7 teachers and 3 non-teaching members – the schools that have reported one or more active infections are currently 474, those closed due to an outbreak of the virus 3.
St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School will remain closed at least until November 15 in Schomberg where 13 infections have been identified. Yesterday, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) announced the immediate closure of Precious Blood Catholic School in Scarborough and the transfer of its 380 students to distance learning.
Here too the infections confirmed so far are 13: 11 are students, 2 teachers. Six of these cases were identified thanks to PCR testing taken home after an outbreak was discovered in the educational institution. “As a precaution we have recommended the closure of the entire school to protect staff, students and the community from further transmission of the virus,” Toronto Public Health tweeted.
“We are currently seeing a steady decrease in cases in our schools,” said Shazia Vlahos, Chief of Communications and Government Relations for the TCDSB, “but we must keep our eyes open to make sure that all health safety precautions are followed. Make sure that before coming to school a screening is done, that those who have symptoms stay at home, that masks are used and physical distance is respected. Following these guidelines I think is really important to be able to continue to see a steady decline in cases, at least in our schools.”
It should be noted that while the total number of school-related Covid-19 infections is higher than in the same period in 2020, the number of active infections associated with the public school system continues to decline for now.
There are currently 918 active cases linked to Ontario’s public schools, down from 973 last week and 1,159 two weeks ago. However, in Greater Toronto and the Hamilton area, active cases have increased week-on-week and now stand at 555 from 495 last Monday.