Ontario's Science Table endorses asymptomatic COVID-19 surveillance testing for elementary school students
Ontario’s advisory panel of top epidemiologists has come out in favour of asymptomatic surveillance testing using rapid antigen tests for basically all elementary school students, especially in areas of the province where COVID-19 is especially prevalent.
On Thursday, the COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said that in areas where there are 35 or more weekly cases per 100,000 people – a threshold that currently includes virtually the entire province save for some of the GTA – elementary students should be tested with a rapid antigen screening test once per week.
In areas of the province with 250 or more weekly cases per 100,000, they recommend elementary, high school students and the unvaccinated should be tested two or three times per week.
“We considered elementary schools a priority for voluntary screen testing given that students less than 12 years of age are not fully vaccinated in Ontario,” the table wrote in its brief.
Last summer, the same panel suggested rapid antigen surveillance testing for asymptomatic children was unnecessary and would not detect enough infectious cases to make it worthwhile.
Regular symptomatic surveillance COVID-19 testing using rapid tests has been in place for months in long-term care homes, hospitals and a wide swath of essential businesses in Ontario.
But outside of the winter holiday break where the Ford government purchased 11 million rapid antigen tests to go home with all two million or more public school students, it has not been in place in any public school this year.
The province has also allowed rapid antigen testing for schools were all students were returning after a COVID-19-related closure, and also plans dozens of mobile testing sites in high-traffic public spaces this winter holiday season, but has resisted calls to implement asymptomatic surveillance testing in schools.
Groups of parents attempted to source their own rapid antigen tests to set up surveillance testing at dozens of individual schools, but their access to supplies was cut off.
Ontario’s testing guidance bars asymptomatic testing, either through full PCR COVID-19 tests or rapid testing devices, except in limited circumstances.
Testing at pharmacies and assessment centres is limited to people showing symptoms of COVID-19, identified high-risk close contacts of identified cases and asymptomatic members of certain high-risk groups.
Rapid tests can be purchased and performed at pharmacies for between $17 and $40 per test. On the open market, they range from $10.50 per test to as high as $16 each to be used at home.
Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said there was no need to widen Ontario’s testing guidance, saying that the fact the province has delivered more rapid tests to businesses, hospitals and congregate care settings than any other province by a wide margin meant they had the best program in the country.
A spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the Science Table report that suggested something sparsely seen before in the province “affirmed” the government’s current testing strategy.
She said Elliott is urging the federal government to increase deliveries of rapid tests to Ontario.
“Ontario deploys every single test received from the federal government, which is why Minister Elliott wrote to her federal counterpart Minister Duclos last week about the limited number of Health Canada approved rapid tests compared to other jurisdictions. With an increased demand for rapid tests and limited supply, we are continuing to urge the federal government to increase the number of approved rapid tests available for use in Ontario and across the country.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.