Thread by @normsworld

Waiting for the back to school announcement to start, think I saw the two minute warning just now. Will try to livetweet between meetings, tune in here: cbc.ca/news/canada/to… #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Sorry, just saw the two minute warning now. Should start at 1:11PM.

And we are getting underway. @lornecoe speaking first. Welcomes Ford & MPPs Lecce, Elliott, Scott, Oosterhoff, Park, Smith & Dr. Barbara Yaffe. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

Ford up now. Notes reps from @DPCDSBSchools are present. Thanks teachers, calls them top notch. References @SickKidsNews report key to decision making. Return to full time for elementary. Announces $309 million for public health staff at schools. #topoli #onpoli #onted

Lecce up now. Says all elementary schools will open 5 days/week, including childcare. High Schools will mostly open in an adapted model, in person an online. In low risk areas full return of secondary. Parents can opt for remote learning in any case. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Here is the back to school guidance document from the government: drive.google.com/file/d/1aPsI6e… #topoli #onpoli #Onted

Lecce announces $309 million to cover PPE, cleaning, H&S training, $30 million in staffing, $50 million to hire Public Health nurses for schools. Surveillance testing for secondary students. $10 million extra for Spec Ed. Another $10 million for mental health. #onted #Onpoli

Masks: Mandatory for Grades 4-12. Masks optional for students in lower grades. Staff and students will be provided masks. Public Health Nurses will be assigned to secondary schools. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Question about #PhysicalDistancing. Lecce notes the 1m distancing guidance from @SickKidsNews report. Adds with masks this should work. (we should make masks mandatory for all grades, I think) #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Q from reporter on why cohorting isn't applying for elementary? Lecce notes the mask policy and Public Health nurses as mitigating factors. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

.@stephaniesmyth asks Ford about remote learning for parents who opt out of in person classes. Can staff also opt out of going into class? Ford says teachers will have to decide what they want to do, but he hopes they'll come back; we need them. #onpoli #onted #topoli

.@stephaniesmyth notes that @HarveyBischof said there's been no meaningful consultation from the government to teachers or unions. Ford says he never heard from him. #topoli #onpoli #onted

.@krushowy asks why not include all students wearing masks? Lecce responds that there's evidence that masks are much less effective in lower grades due to touching, adjusting them. Dr. Yaffe adds wear a mask if you can't maintain 2m. #topoli #onpoli #onted

Yaffe adds that children can't maintain wearing a mask reliably. Masks are encouraged at all grades. (Norm's note: PLEASE WEAR A MASK!) #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Q from reporter on Boards that costed out needs due to #covid19. Does $309 million cover it? Lecce notes that BC is spending less than half of this amount. Lecce notes that they will response to the need as identified nimbly. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

.@meyer_lucas asks about cohorting in elementary. Was it cost prohibitive? Lecce notes that each class will be cohorted at regular class size. I think Meyer was asking about cohorts of 15. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

.@meyer_lucas asks for details on nurses. Lecce clarifies that they will provide emergency response (outbreak response) testing, and treatment. Dr. Yaffe adds up to 500 nurses across PHUs, proportionally by student pop. Not 1 nurse/school, will be for a family of schools. #onted

Nurses will go onsite to deal with outbreaks, education, testing, training and liaise with Public Health. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

.@CityCynthia asks why mandatory testing of school staff isn't required? Dr. Yaffe responds that testing doesn't solve the whole problem; just 1 component. Testing only provides info on that point in time and can reveal false positive. Suspect cases will have their cohorts tested

Dr. Yaffe notes that testing on cohort if there's a suspected case will help us identify asymptomatic cases. Screening for symptoms also crucial. Don't go to school/work if you're sick, Dr. Yaffe adds. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

.@CityCynthia asks Lecce what do we do with those who are sick, immunocompromised who can't attend? Lecce says this will be respected; if you can't teach in the classroom, we will need you to teach online. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

.@RadioCanadaInfo reporter asks about middle school, Gr. 7-12. How do we handle these schools? Lecce notes that school start times and bus times will be staggered to maintain the integrity of the cohort. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

There is no translator at this press conference. Oosterhoff responding in French.

.@Travisdhanraj asks how will we know if self screening is effective? Lecce notes we need parents to cooperate and be honest about the symptoms of their child. Children should stay home if any symptoms at all. We all have a role. Nurses will train staff on symptoms/response.

Dr. Yaffe hopes parents will take screening seriously to protect the health of everyone. If your child is sick, call the school and don't come. We don't want an outbreak. We need to work together to protect school communities. #Onpoli #topoli #Onted

.@Travisdhanraj notes the response is basically "the honour system". Travis asks about how it's realistic to actually distance in packed classes. Lecce adds that vaccinations are critically important this year. WRT cohorts, Lecce notes that in K, rooms are much larger. #onted

Lecce adds smaller grades have lower class sizes. Adds further protections will be added if necessary (Norm's note: it's likely necessary) #topoli #onpoli #onted

Dr. Yaffe notes the social bubble is continuing, and knowing who we've been in contact with. Doesn't work with schools Dr. Yaffe says. We've flattened the curve, as we open up society we need to mind childrens' mental health. They need school, as safe as possible. #onted

Press conference is over.

Here’s the announcement from the government: news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/7/…