COVID-19 testing to expand at schools in hot spots, province says

Ontario will expand COVID-19 testing to asymptomatic students, staff and their families at schools in the province's hot spot areas of Ottawa, Toronto, Peel and York.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce, who made the announcement Thursday, maintained that schools in the province were safe, but said the testing program would add another layer of protection.

The voluntary testing begins this week and will last four weeks. Details such as what age groups will be tested and where testing will be done weren't immediately released.

“The method for testing will vary between regions, and the ministry is working with school boards to determine the best approach to meet local needs,” a news release said. “This initiative will make it easier to track and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.”

While testing will focus on students, regions can consider expanding it to include staff and/or family members, the release said.

Since schools opened this fall, the province has reported 4,349 cases of students and staff contracting COVID-19. Some epidemiologists have warned that students who are asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 may be transmitting the disease, but it's difficult to tell without random testing.

Ontario reported 1,478 new cases of people with COVID-19 on Thursday and 21 additional deaths.

Peel, Toronto and York remain the provincial hot spots. As of Monday, Peel had the highest number of new weekly cases, with 170 per 100,000 people, followed by Toronto at 95 and York at 82. Ottawa had 28.

Ottawa Public Health reported 24 new cases of people with COVID-19 on Thursday, compared to 23 the day before, and no new deaths. Across the city, 23 people were in hospital with COVID-19, including three in intensive care.