Thread by @OttawaHealth

🎶SCHOOOLLLS OUT -- NOT SO FAST, ALICE COOPER!

So, schools are opening. Is this a good thing or a risky thing? Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: read these 15 tweets (sorry)

Schools aren't opening because "things are great". Literally nothing about this is cause to relax. (1/15)

It’s quite the opposite, actually. Simply put: schools are opening because the risks and impacts of keeping schools closed far outweigh those of opening them.

Remember: just as peace is more than the absence of war, good public health is more than the absence of disease. (2/15)

Make no mistake: there is no such thing as a risk-free activity. We once sprained a finger whilst typing a tweet (true story).

But like we've said before, public health is about harm reduction. It's a pillar of our work. Our role is to help you identify and balance risks. (3/15)

Are there risks in opening schools? Yes. But it's about reducing harms. Schools aren't risk-free, but they're a better option for kids than a playdate at home.

There's also harms with keeping schools closed. Be it families whose routines are in chaos, parents trying (4/15)

to help children with online learning while working from home, people supporting coworkers who need to take time off, children missing out on much-needed social interaction, homes that may not offer a safe space, or the incredible teachers who have worked tirelessly to (5/15)

educate our children remotely...many members of our community are far from ok right now.

And getting our children back into school is a necessary step towards easing the strain as we continue our community's journey through this pandemic. (6/15)

Will this one step solve all our community's mental health needs? No, but it’s progress. And it’s needed.

The timing of posting this thread on #BellLetsTalk day is not lost on us. And yes, we just shamelessly used the thread to promote the #BellLetsTalk hashtag. Twice. (7/15)

But, and this is a massive BUT...absolutely nothing about this should make you think we are anywhere near being in the clear and that we can open everything back up.

We are NOT saying that we need to ease any of the other restrictions currently in place under the (8/15)

Provincial stay-at-home order. Why? Because we need them. Now more than ever. This is the time to be more vigilant than we've ever been before. It’s still #StayHome, just now with schools opening.

Our children need this. This is THEIR essential work. Parents need this. (9/15)

Teachers need this. And we owe it to everyone to make sure schools stay open. We need to do this for our kids, together.

Now, as with all things, there are risks we can control and risks we cannot. We'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge those of you who are asking about (10/15)

paid sick days. Indeed, that is something which would likely minimize risks, but the decisions about that are out of our properly washed hands.

But let's focus on the things we CAN do. We must continue being wise. Parents must screen their kids daily and keep them home (11/15)

(except to get tested) if they have ANY symptoms of COVID-19.

It is vital that our kids only socialize w/those they live with outside of school, and that adults also seek testing immediately if experiencing symptoms.

The stakes are just too high to do it any other way. (12/15)

The only way this works is if we keep community transmission as low as possible. December & January showed us how quickly things can turn.

But we were able to lower the level of COVID-19 in the community in the fall, so we know it’s possible. We just need to do our part. (13/15)

For us, we’re working to up our school health team’s capacity, we’re coordinating w/testing partners to increase capacity to test kids & we're increasing comms to schools/families so that everyone is reminded of the best ways to limit transmission & support one another. (14/15)

We'll keep doing what works. We’ll keep contact tracing. We'll keep answering your questions when you reach out. And yes, we'll keep tweeting (sorry).

Nothing lasts forever. Not shutdowns, not COVID & not the Bernie memes or the Tiger King (thank goodness).

-OPH out (15/15)