Thread by @normsworld

Thank you Dr. Vinita Dubey of @TOPublicHealth for joining our Back to School @TorontoCPIC meeting to answer parent/guardian questions! #topoli #onpoli #onted

CPIC VP asks "What are the long term effects of #covid19 on children?" Dr. Dubey notes that this is a new virus and we are still learning more about the long term effects. It's only been 9 months, and this is why we must take every precaution. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Great question from CPIC rep to @TOPublicHealth: what is response if there's a case at the school? TPH will perform a risk assessment, ppl in the cohort will be isolated for 14 days and asked to go for a test. Rest of school will be notified. The school won't be shut for 1 case.

TPH may err on the side of caution and ask multiple cohorts to stay home if exposure is unclear. A school setting is a congregate care setting in TPH's eyes. TPH protocols for school to be released by end of August. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

.@TOPublicHealth describing their worst nightmare: not being able to track where a #covid19 infection came from. If cases can't be tracked, additional measures to protect school may be required. There's no magic # of cases to decide to shut down school. #topoli #Onted #onpoli

.@TOPublicHealth says they are planning for a second wave. As community infection increases, schools can play a role at propagating transmission. There may be a point where for safety of everyone, schools may need to shut down. We should prepare for that. #topoli #onted #onpoli

.@TOPublicHealth says staff and students should install the Covid19 app to identify and trace contacts who may have exposed them to #covid19. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Q about quarantine: if students are isolating due to a test, do they have to test negative to return? TPH recommends that students get tested if there's a case. After 14 days, as long as symptom free students can return. Testing helps identify spread. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

If students get sick, TPH recommends they get tested for #covid19. If they don't, they may need to stay home for 14 days. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

Great Q around mask wearing; what's the best kind? @TOPublicHealth's Dr. Dubey responds "one that is comfortable for you". TPH notes they've developed infographics for school boards which they'll send to us shortly. Should be a snug comfortable fit. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Dr. Dubey suggests that students keep a "clean" and "dirty" bag for masks. At the end of the day, wash the mask and reuse the next day. Cloth masks are recommended over disposable masks. Medical masks & face shields not recommended.

CPIC rep asks Dr. Dubey if you were a parent of the public school system, would you send your child back to school? Dr. Dubey responds that factors include: age, ability to follow direction, mask wearing skill, vulnerable relatives, ability to homeschool. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Question about cohorts and itinerant teachers: itinerant teachers can see upwards of 250 students/day. What happens if that itinerant tests positive? @TOPublicHealth recommends 1 teacher/cohort as much as possible. Itinerants need to be very careful to maintain distance. #onted

TPH also recommends plexiglass to keep teachers safe. #topoli #onpoli #Onted

Dr. Dubey of @TOPublicHealth says #PhysicalDistancing of 2m is the most important factor to protect people from catching #covid19. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Dr. Dubey says that you must stay home if you're sick. Any sickness. Stay home. #topoli #Onpoli #ONted

Who is in charge of the public health response at the school? It's quite daunting for it to fall on the principal. TPH notes Public Health nurse will be assigned to a family of schools to lead the response. Support via TPH webinars, TPH comms in board newsletters, etc. #onted

TPH notes that #covid19 measures will be "The New Norm". TPH will provide infographics, signage on mask use and other key teachings. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Is the objective to bring #covid19 cases down to 0? Dr. Dubay notes that some countries have made it down to 0 cases. The aim is to get the case down as low as possible, and be successful in tracing contacts. When you don't know where cases come from, that's troubling. #onted

TPH has metrics which they publicly track on their website regarding lab tests, case numbers, tracing percentage. Trustee Tanuan asks, when the metrics are all green can we relax measures? Have to reopen slowly to be safe, Dr. Dubay notes. #topoli #Onted #Onpoli

I asked about the saliva based testing pilot that we passed based on @TOPublicHealth advice. Dr. Dubey notes that the saliva test is convenient, pain free, and was used by @BlueJays to test for covid19! Students can even keep a test at home for convenient testing. #topoli #Onted

Dr. Dubey notes that we are changing behaviours this fall, we can master these new measures while still being able to out. In the winter we will need to be good at #covid19 prevention methods. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

A CPIC rep wonders if the aim of the government is to create herd immunity, as they are not doing effective things like #PhysicalDistancing? Dr. Dubey is the aim is to keep infection low until there's a #covid19 vaccine. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

Dr. Dubey points us to their guidance on their website for non-public schools, as it's fairly complete, available here: toronto.ca/wp-content/upl… #topoli #onpoli #onted

Staff now up at @torontocpic discussing back to school plans. Notes that return to school plan will be updated with mandatory masks, HEPA filters and windows opening to 12". Have to cost out plexiglass that passed in motion. The #covid19 hotspot cohorts of 15 is being sorted out.

Question about survey: will be a new survey Wednesday with a closing Sunday to clarify parent intentions for back to school. Keep an eye out for the survey on Wednesday, @TCDSB parents! #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Staff notes that in regards to learning modes, they have to staff the physical and virtual school. Also the assessment cycle needs to be consistent in order to grade. Also a question of exposing the re-entering student to a new cohort. #topoli #onpoli #onted

Important to make this clear: the teacher of your child's remote learning course will not likely be from the home school.

A CPIC rep passionately speaks in favour of broadcasting class and keeping students together with their friend should they return. #topoli #onpoli #onted

.@TorontoCPIC reps are making amazing points tonight, standing up for student mental health and local school communities! Really impressed, and clearly we have a lot of work to do to engage parents and keep them informed. #topoli #Onpoli #onted

Great @TorontoCPIC motions, that will come to Board this Thursday. My mind has been opened tonight to concerns I hadn't thought of. #topoli #Onpoli #Onted

And CPIC adjourns with all motions except the motion on broadcasting classes passing here, to be presented at board on Thursday. You can watch the meeting here, tune in at the 1hr 11 minute mark for @TOPublicHealth: #topoli #onpoli #Onted

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https://twitter.com/normsworld/status/1295520719351185410