WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Ontario government is providing additional stand-alone HEPA filter units for schools and child care centres to further protect children against COVID-19.
A Feb. 21 statement from Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced the deployment of an additional 40,000 HEPA filter units to school boards and up to 9,000 units to childcare centres.
“As Ontario gradually lifts measures on the advice of the chief medical officer of health, we remain committed to strengthening the protections in environments where students learn and staff work,” Lecce said in his statement.
He added the investment will benefit roughly one million more children in schools and childcare settings.
“This will help ensure maximum protection for these learning spaces as we keep students in classrooms that have been made as safe as possible,” he said.
In an email to the Advertiser, Upper Grand District School Board spokesperson Heather Loney confirmed the board will be receiving approximately 200 more HEPA units.
Wellington Catholic District School Board communications officer Ali Wilson stated her board will be receiving five filtration units because the deployment is prioritized towards “schools that are not mechanically ventilated and 100 per cent of our schools are mechanically ventilated.”
