Ontario students return to the classroom on Jan. 17. Here's what you need to know
The Ontario government announced children will return to in-person learning on Monday, following an initial two-day delay and a two-week pivot to remote learning.
New COVID-19 screening, testing and reporting will be introduced . Here’s everything you need to know.
When does in-person learning start?
Ontario schools will resume in-person learning on Jan. 17.
Will my child be cohorting?
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said “time-limited” cohorting will be introduced to reduce direct and indirect contacts between children.
Lecce said that will include pausing some high contact sports, stricter lunch cohort protocols and elevated cleaning requirements.
What are the screening symptoms for self-isolating?
New provincial guidance now identifies the following symptoms, which require self-isolation, including a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, a headache, extreme tiredness, muscle aches or joint pain and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. For the full list, click here.
How long does my child need to self-isolate?
A child's isolation period is dependent on their symptoms.
If a child only has one symptom from the following list – sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, extreme tiredness, muscle aches or joint pain and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea – they can stay home until their symptoms subside for at least 24-hours.
However, if a student has two or more of the symptoms listed above, the guidance requires one negative PCR test, two negative rapid tests, or a five to 10 day isolation period. Students must remain at home until their symptoms subside.
How does vaccination status impact a student’s isolation period?
The new government guidelines indicate that students aged 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated must isolate for 10-days if they show COVID-19 symptoms. Their 10-day count either starts on the date symptoms begin or the date of a positive test, whichever comes first.
Fully vaccinated children aged 12 and older must isolate for five days if they show COVID-19 symptoms. They can then return to the classroom 24-hours after their symptoms improve.
All students under the age of 12 can exit self-isolation after five days regardless of vaccination status, as long as their symptoms subside.
Can my child get a free PCR test?
Only children who show the most indicative symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, trouble breathing, chills or a sudden loss of taste or smell – will be guaranteed access to a PCR test. Students will only be eligible for a PCR test if they develop symptoms at school.
For students who have less indicative symptoms, such as a runny nose, extreme fatigue, headache or a sore throat, they will need to show two or more symptoms to qualify for a PCR test.
PCR tests will no longer be available to cohorts facing outbreaks or children exposed to COVID-19.
Can my child get a free rapid test?
The Ontario government said it will give two COVID-19 rapid tests to each student and staff member when in-person learning returns on Jan. 17.
Beginning on Monday, the government said 3.9-million rapid antigen tests will be distributed first to staff in child care and public schools, children in child care settings, and students in public elementary schools, followed by secondary school students.
More tests will be provided once the government has the supply. Another 1.2-million rapid tests are expected to be distributed the week of Jan. 24.
Will I be notified if my child is exposed to COVID-19?
Parents should not expect to be notified if their child is exposed to a positive COVID-19 case at school.
The Ontario government said parents will only be notified of a potential COVID-19 outbreak if approximately 30 per cent of students in their school are absent.
Given the widespread transmission of COVID-19, Health Minister Christine Elliot said reporting and disclosing cases is unrealistic.
While case counts will no longer be publicly posted, the ministry said it will continue to report school and child-care closures due to COVID-19.
Can my child continue virtual learning? Can I switch to virtual learning later?
For TDSB parents who selected the virtual learning route for their child before Jan.7, their remote selection will continue. However, for parents who are hoping to switch from in-person to virtual learning, the date to make that decision has passed. The TDSB said the date cannot be extended given the time needed to organize classes.
The rules may be different across school boards.
What new protocols have been introduced to keep kids safe?
The government has provided 10-million non-fitted N95 masks to school staff and more than 4-million three ply masks for students.
To improve ventilation, more than 70,000 HEPA filter units and 3,000 standalone HEPA filters have been added to schools across the province, according to the government. The Minister of Education said the filters were shipped to schools and should be arriving soon.
Vaccination appointments have been accelerated for school staff and students who are eligible.
Will there be enough supply teachers to cover when teachers get sick?
The province is allowing retired teachers to return to the classroom for 95 days instead of the previous limit of 50-days, in an effort to address pandemic-related staffing shortages.
The government also said approximately 2,350 projected staff will be hired to address absenteeism, including teachers, custodians and mental health workers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.