Ottawa Public Health proactively monitoring absenteeism rates in schools, Etches says
Ottawa's top doctor says Ottawa Public Health will not wait for schools to report absenteeism rates above 30 per cent before investigating a possible COVID-19 outbreak in schools.
As students returned to in-person learning last week, the Ontario government said principals are only required to report possible COVID-19 outbreaks at schools when absenteeism rates hit 30 per cent.
However, medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches says Ottawa Public Health is proactively looking at the absenteeism rates itself and, "not waiting for the 30 per cent threshold."
"Where we see that they're higher, we're reaching out to schools to understand what's behind that," said Etches on Wednesday.
"We’d like to know is it because many people are choosing to do online learning, is it because we have an illness, is it because it’s something else. We’re trying to understand is it all in one class, is it across many because if we see concerning patterns of transmission there may be practices we need to reinforce, there may be situations where the exposures could have been higher risk so we want to address these things."
Ottawa Public Health's school nurses, public health inspectors and an infection prevention and control team are monitoring COVID-19 cases in schools to support the transition back to school during the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., five Ottawa schools had an absenteeism rate of 30 per cent or more.
- Ottawa Carleton District School Board Adult High School – 37.8 per cent
- Clifford Bowey Public School – 31.5 per cent
- Frederick Banting Secondary Alternative School – 33.3 per cent
- Regina Street Alternative School – 30 per cent
- York Street Public School – 31.9 per cent
“The context I’m operating in is that we are looking at the transmissibility of this virus and trying to minimize morbidity and mortality as well as maintain essential services," said Etches.
"So school being an essential service for children and youth, the disruption of learning is there when whole cohorts are dismissed."
The medical officer of health says screening every day, masking and physical distancing can slow down the introduction and transmission of COVID-19 in schools.
“Dismissal of cohorts doesn’t stop transmission, it won’t stop transmission necessarily. The community surrounding levels of COVID are an ongoing source of introduction into schools. So the first thing we have to do every day is check whether we have symptoms that could be COVID," said Dr. Etches.
"Overall, we are not aiming for a COVID zero environment; we are aiming for migrating the harms and protecting the people at higher risk.”
Etches: Stay cautious
With students back in school for in-person learning, the medical officer of health is asking parents and guardians to limit interactions outside of school so kids can remain in the class.
"I would like to see us approach all of our interactions with caution still. We still have high levels of COVID-19 in the community," said Etches.
"My recommendation for families is to prioritize the school settings, knowing there can be exposure in schools and think carefully about what other exposures are added in in the community setting."
Dr. Etches says social and sports activities are important for a child's health.
"We're just trying to proceed step-by-step, have children and youth back in school, get them after that back to the activities that make a difference for them as well."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.