Ottawa families excited for return to class, but some wary of province's new COVID-19 reporting plan
Grade 1 student Ella Babcock doesn't hesitate when asked why she's excited to return to the classroom next week.
"Because I get to see my friends and person and I actually get to go outside and see people from different classes," she said.
The Ontario government announced staff and students in child care, elementary and secondary school settings will get two rapid tests when school returns to in-person learning Monday for use when they're symptomatic.
"The most important thing is that the kids are back in the classrooms with their teachers and their classmates so we're happy to have the extra rapid tests," said mom Jennifer Babcock. "Having extra tests is better than nothing, it gives parents a bit of extra relief as kids do head back to in-person learning."
Some, though, aren't comfortable with the province's back-to-school plans.
"We want schools to be open, but we need them to be safe," said Cynthia Steeves, acting president of CUPE 2357 which represents thousands of education workers. "We don't understand why it is that they've downgraded notifications and COVID reporting and all the screenings and stuff like that. It's a dangerous precedent that they're setting."
Uncertainty over changing reporting guidelines has made some Ottawa residents take things into their own hands. Christie Cowan, a nurse and parent, started an unofficial school self-reporting Facebook group where no names are posted, just dates and locations.
"Do I wish that the city and the government was doing this still? Yes, absolutely," she said. "To know your child is negative or that they've been exposed allows the family to make a risk assessment."
The government said more rapid tests will be provided once the government has the supply, adding another 1.2 million tests are expected to be distributed the week of Jan. 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
LIVE SOON Honda expected to announce Ontario EV battery plant, part of a $15B investment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Honda executives are expected to announce today that the Japanese automaker is building an electric vehicle battery plant in Alliston, Ont., part of a $15-billion investment.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'