WELLINGTON COUNTY – There remains no timetable, from the province or public health, for the return to in-person learning at local schools.
On Jan. 28, eight days later than provincial officials promised they’d offer more information, education minister Stephen Lecce provided an update on the return to school.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) was not one of four additional health units approved to return to in-person learning on Feb. 1.
“The government agrees with the growing consensus in the medical community that returning students to in-person learning is essential to the wellbeing, development and mental health of children,” Lecce stated.
“According to leading medical and scientific experts, including Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, our province’s schools are safe places for learning.”
Local school boards have suggested in-person learning will be extended to Feb. 11 “at the earliest” in Wellington County.
On Jan. 20, in the absence of word from the province, WDGPH Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nicola Mercer announced online-only learning would be extended in the region to Feb. 1.
However, she did not provide direction on what will happen as that deadline passes on Monday.
“This week, I clarified to all schools in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph that the provincial government has not approved a return to in-person learning for our region on [Feb. 1],” Mercer stated on Jan. 28.
“Since these closures are directed by the province, I do not have the ability to open individual schools, or schools within a particular part of the region, without the province’s direction.”
Mercer said WDGPH will await further instructions from the province.
“Public health will continue to work with the provincial government and our education partners to return to in-person instruction as soon as it is safe,” she stated.
“My continued thanks and support go out to everyone doing the hard work of remote learning during this time.”
Lecce’s Jan. 28 announcement stated local public health units “have the authority to close schools based on their unique circumstances, and parents may choose to permit their children to continue learning remotely.”
Lecce listed the following steps that will help ensure a safe return to school:
- stronger masking protocols to include grades 1 to3;
- expanded access to targeted asymptomatic testing; and
- stricter screening protocols.
