Listening to Ontario Legislature. @AndreaHorwath noted #covid19 case numbers are over 300. School buses are cancelled because drivers are scared. The Premier said he would spare nothing to ensure September's safe. When will he make good on this promise? #topoli#onted#onpoli
.@AndreaHorwath says experts say 2m of distancing is required to ensure safety. How many students should be on each bus to achieve this? (Norm's note: certainly less than the current full capacity.) #topoli#onpoli#Onted
.@AndreaHorwath noted that each seat on a bus in Ontario had 3 students per seat. How can bus drivers & students stay safe in this situation? #topoli#Onpoli#onted
.@AndreaHorwath says she's shocked as the government did not spend enough to allow students & drivers to physical distance & be safe. Drivers are walking away from the job due to lack of protections. How can the govt tell parents they've spared no expense? #topoli#Onpoli#onted
A school bus driver says "Action is sorely needed to protect drivers and students." Need to work together to establish a safe cap of students and other protections for school bus drivers and students. Will the government listen? #topoli#onpoli#Onted
.@AndreaHorwath notes that the school bus plan released is "no plan at all". Will the government agree to set 50% capacity for school buses? #topoli#onpoli#onted
.@maritstiles up now. Parents are nervous with #covid19 cases on the rise and large class sizes. Why has the government refused to fund smaller safer class sizes so that students can safely Physically Distance? #topoli#onpoli#onted
.@maritstiles notes that the TDSB (Norm's note: and the TCDSB) used their reserves to reduce covid19 hotspot class sizes. Why won't the Ministry fund all boards so they can have safe class sizes across this province? #topoli#onpoli#onted
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.@m_layton asks @ BOH should masks be worn in schools? Dr. De Villa responds that masks in schools are provincial jurisdiction. Her advice is due to being in a period of high covid19 activity we should use all tools. She highly recommends masks in school. #topoli#onpoli#onted
.@m_layton asks why TPH doesn’t have the authority to impose masks in school? Dr. De Villa notes the province has made clear that schools are their purview. They have some leeway at a school level to impose masking.
.@KateMMulligan asks about the PHO report that suggests reimplementing mandatory mask mandates is recommended. What can TPH do and not do with respect to mask mandates? Dr. De Villa notes risk profile will go up and down going forward. Recommends masks now. #topoli
Dr. Juni says we’re noticing increases in wastewater and other signals. Notes the lifting of mask mandates was too soon, done in the absence of supporting data. #topoli#onpoli
Will livetweet Minister Lecce's back to school presser, set to start 1:30, on this thread. You can tune in here: #topoli#onpoli#Onted
And we're 10 minutes late.
Minister Lecce up, thanks Dr. Moore. Acknowledges difficulty families are facing, notes that students should be in school. Pivots were required to ensure community safety. Confirms back to school on January 17th.
First Q at Minister Elliott's presser is about schools. What health data has led to the conclusion to reopen schools? Minister Elliott responds she knows schools are good for students, notes govt has done everything they can to make schools safe, doesn't answer Q. #onpoli#onted
Why not make PCR tests available to students, staff and daycare to increase their level of confidence that schools are safe? Minister Elliott notes PCR tests will be available for symptomatic students & staff. 3.5 million RATs have been received & are off to schools. #Onted
Matt Anderson notes that the demand for PCR tests have dropped since they changed testing requirements, now can redirect PCR tests to schools.