Pediatrician groups call for Ontario schools to reopen no later than Jan. 17

A student peers through the front door of Thorncliffe Park Public School in Toronto on Friday December 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Three pediatricians' groups are urging the Ontario government to resume in-person learning no later than Jan. 17.

The Canadian Paediatric Society, the Pediatrics Section of the Ontario Medical Association and the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario make the call in an open letter to Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

They say they understand that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is overwhelming hospitals and governments need to take action.

But, they say, "certain decisions and measures pose a far greater risk to children and youth than the virus itself."

The Ontario government announced on Monday that instead of resuming classes on Jan. 5 as scheduled, students would learn remotely until at least Jan. 17.

It was an about-face for the province, which had previously described school closures as a last resort.

Ontario has seen record COVID-19 case counts in recent weeks, and on Friday reported an all-time high of 2,472 COVID-19 patients in hospital.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2022.