Item - 2020.HL20.2
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on September 21, 2020 and was adopted with amendments.
HL20.2 - Toronto Public Health Guidance for Reopening Schools
- Decision Type:
- Presentation
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Board Decision
The Board of Health:
1. Urged the Province of Ontario to provide school boards with the necessary resources and support to follow Toronto Public Health's recommendations on safely reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined below and in the presentation (September 21, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health:
a. all classes (or cohort) sizes be limited to allow for two metre distancing;
b. a saliva-based test be actively considered as a pilot project that can be scaled up, as needed;
c. a protocol be developed to indicate when school reopenings should be adjusted to adaptive models (e.g., half day in school, half day online) and when schools should be moved fully online, with consideration for keeping the most vulnerable in schools regardless of community transmission; and
d. active COVID-19 screening be implemented at all schools.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Schools Reopening 2020.
Summary
The Medical Officer of Health will give a presentation on Toronto Public Health's Guidance for Reopening Schools.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-156702.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/hl/comm/communicationfile-118213.pdf
Speakers
Hamzah Husain, SafeCan Disinfecting and Fogging Solutions
Motions
That:
1. The Board of Health urge the Province of Ontario to provide school boards with the necessary resources and support to follow Toronto Public Health's recommendations on safely reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined below and in the presentation (September 21, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health:
a. all classes (or cohort) sizes be limited to allow for two metre distancing;
b. a saliva-based test be actively considered as a pilot project that can be scaled up, as needed;
c. a protocol be developed to indicate when school reopenings should be adjusted to adaptive models (e.g., half day in school, half day online) and when schools should be moved fully online, with consideration for keeping the most vulnerable in schools regardless of community transmission; and
d. active COVID-19 screening be implemented at all schools.