School-aged children now account for more COVID-19 cases per capita than any other age group in Toronto
School-aged children now account for the highest share of COVID-19 cases of any demographic in Toronto but the city’s top doctor says that most infections are still being tied back to household transmission and not classroom outbreaks.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa said during a Board of Health meeting on Monday afternoon that the case rate among children ages four to 11 has steadily increased since schools reopened earlier this month and now stands at 64 per 100,000, up from 57 per 100,000 last week
De Villa said that the cohort, which roughly captures those school-aged children who are not eligible for vaccination, now accounts for more new COVID-19 cases per capita than any other age group for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
“It is important to note that at this point what we are seeing is the majority of cases in children to date are sporadic. We're seeing at this point that few are linked to outbreak. And in fact, what we do see is that the most common source of infection at this time amongst children is household transmission,” she said. “With that in mind it is absolutely key for parents to get vaccinated to help ensure the safe reopening of schools and the ability to provide ongoing in-person learning.”.
De Villa said that while there is limited data on the vaccination status of school-aged parents, one can use the 30 to 49 age group as a “reasonable proxy.”
She said that about 25 per cent of that age group is not fully vaccinated, suggesting there is “still some work that needs to be done.”
“Our data suggests about 190,000 (of that group) have not received a first dose,” she said. “It’s important for the board to recognize that it is absolutely key for parents to get vaccinated.”
De Villa’s comments on Monday afternoon come amid new data suggesting that more than a quarter of all known COVID-19 cases in the province are now associated with schools.
Up to 2 p.m. on Friday, the Ministry of Education says it was aware of another 135 COVID-19 cases; with 120 among public school children and 13 cases in education workers.
The associations of two other cases detected Friday were not disclosed.
There are now 1,450 known active cases of COVID-19 in schools across the province, and one school in Courtice, Ont. is closed.
At this point last school year, there were no more than 280 cases of COVID-19 found in Ontario schools, but that school year began approximately one week later, the more transmissible Delta and Alpha coronavirus variants were not present and vaccination was not yet possible.
COVID-19 cases tied to schools now make up 26 per cent of the province’s known active caseload.
Meanwhile, Toronto Public Health says it has formed a working group to plan the rollout and administration of COVID-19 vaccines to kids aged 5-11 once Health Canada gives final approval.
Pfizer says it plans to submit its COVID-19 vaccine trial data from children to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the next several days.
Toronto Public Health says the working group will be made up of “health partners, school boards, community representatives and the Ministry of Health.”
It estimates there are 200,000 children in that age group within Toronto.
Elsewhere in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA), school boards reported an additional 88 cases of COVID-19 detected between Friday and Monday morning.
There are now 711 cases of COVID-19 associated with schools in the GTHA.
CP24 counted at least 284 classes and cohorts ordered to move to online learning as of Monday, and the number is likely higher because large school boards such as Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board do not release statistics on classroom dismissals.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.