New findings suggest that schools are not causing the coronavirus to spread as previously assumed.
According to asymptomatic testing done in Ontario schools, students don’t seem to be spreading the virus while attending class.
Out of 3,600 tests conducted in Ottawa, Toronto, York and Peel, only 57 positive cases were found among students.
That means that the test positivity rate is lower than 2%.
Earlier this week, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce acknowledged that even though transmission in schools was low, students and teachers could still have to resort to online learning in 2021.
“We have consulted with the Chief Medical Officer of Health as well as the Public Health Measures Table and have determined that an extended winter holiday is not necessary at this time, given Ontario’s strong safety protocols, low levels of transmission and safety within our schools,” said Lecce in November.
A large portion of the cases were found to have been from Thorncliffe Park Public School, where 26 people tested positive for the virus.
Critics of Premier Doug Ford have accused the Ontario government of imposing too stringent lockdown measures that harm ordinary Canadians.
A recent ruling by an Ontario Superior Court judge found that Ford’s lockdown measures showed “apparent unfairness” towards small businesses while letting large retailers continue to operate.
