Thread by @NishaOttawa

1/I have to believe this decision wasn't made lightly.

What I need to hear (and will actively support):

Resources will be committed to develop an integrated strategy for in-person instruction as a healthy, resilient workplace in Sept 2021

Why this is so important:

2/Schools offer an essential service to students

Many have benefitted from in-person instruction and stable access to clinical services as needed.

And more have benefitted when there have been additional educational supports (e.g. EAs)

We have seen investments for schools to be healthier workplaces for students

and for the education staff who are critical to their essential work.

But these measures haven't been consistently applied across communities, despite PHUs, education admin, staff, parents leaning in.

For healthier schools, there needs to be community-based measures:

- Vaccines and #CommunityImmunity for indirect benefits to younger kids

- #PaidSickLeave (to keep sick kids at home)

- intact #TestTraceIsolate systems

👆🏾 wrap-around supports for healthier schools

Measures at baseline that⬇️disruptions + ⬆️learning:

- Screening + isolation strategy for sick/exposed students/staff

- hand hygiene, cleaning

- Ventilation: outdoor ed, windows + indoor air quality, smaller class sizes

And TEMPORIZING measures to support learning when community infection rates⬆️

We have evidence-informed metrics + tools:
-cohorting students/staff
-blended learning
-masking for source control
-broader TTI
-activity restrictions...

*3rd image👇🏾 (current state) is not acceptable

While the evidence has not changed, the "fébrilité" around returning to in-person instruction is more palpable than ever.

Education vs economy.
Patio vs principles.

I appreciated @petrosoniak's take on complexities in decision-making back in January:

Debates around safe vs unsafe schools have damaged trust in education, epi and PH.

We need
- transparency on this decision, given support to MOHs
- a plan to sustain resilience to infectious hazards for schools

This values kids/staff more than as monkeys in the middle